KD 
9536. 


The  Gold  Resources 

AND  THE 

Gold  Mining  Industry 

of  the 

Far  Eastern  Republic 


Published   by 

The  Special  Delegation  of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic 
to  the  United  States  of  America 

Washington,  D.  C. 
1922 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

I.  Introduction 5 

II.  The  Gold  Minig  Industry  in  the  Amur  Province 10 

1)  The  Zeya  District 10 

2)  The  Selimdja  and  Niman  Districts 23 

III.  The  Gold  Mining  Industry  in  the  Baikal  Region 31 

1)  The  Zabaikal  District 31 

2)  The  Nerchinsk  District 43 

3)  Fundamental  Gold  Deposits  in  the  Zabaikal  Pro- 
vince             49 

4)  List  of  Gold-Bearing  Rivers  in  Eastern  Zabaikal 
opened  to  Private  Gold  Minig 54 

IV.  The  Gold  Mining  Industry  in  the  Maritime  and  Priamur 
Provinces 56 

APPENDIX  I.  Ordinance  dealing  with  regulations  regard- 
ing private  gold  mining  in  districts  alloted 
for  such  purpose  within  the  territory 
of  the  Par  Eastern  Republic 64 

APPENDIX  II.     Map  of  the  Par  Eastern  Republic. 


CHAPTER  I. 
INTRODUCTION 

Russia  occupied  the  fourth  place  among  the  nations  in  gold 
production,  its  annual  production  of  gold  being  from  fifty-five 
to  sixty  millions  of  rubles.  The  provinces  of  Eastern  Siberia 
which  now  have  become  part  of  the  Par  Eastern  Republic  used 
to  produce  33%  of  the  entire  gold  production  of  Russia.  The 
number  of  workers  engaged  in  the  gold  mining  industry  in  these 
provinces  were  40%  of  the  entire  number  of  workers  engaged  in 
the  gold  mining  industry  of  Russia.  Most  of  the  work  was  done 
by  -manual  labor,  and  only  in  a  few  places  were  mechanical 
methods  in  mining  gold  used. 

It  is  difficult  to  obtain  the  exact  figures  of  the  gold  pro- 
duced, as  only  a  part  of  the  total  production  was  registered. 
The  rest  of  the  gold  is  not  accounted  for  because,  as  for  instance 
in  the  Amur  province,  a  great  deal  of  gold  was  smuggled  into 
China  across  the  Amur  River  by  Chinese  who  are  either  mining 
gold  independently  or  are  employed  as  laborers  in  the  gold  mines. 
Russians  also  smuggled  gold  across  the  frontier. 

At  the  Convention  of  the  owners  of  gold  mines  of  the  Amur 
and  Bureya  district  (in  the  Amur  Province)  the  following 
figures  were  presented,  showing  the  quantity  of  gold  refined  in 
the  gold  assay  laboratories  of  the  Amur  Province  during  the 
period  1903-1916: 

Years     Quantity  (Ibs.) 

1903 20,808  1910 43,812 

1904 19,620  1911 42,948 

1905 17,316  1912 42,768 

1906 18,756  1913 40,932 

1907 26,496  1914 43,596 

1908 32,688  1915 26,424 

1909 38,196  1916 16,128 

Even  these  incomplete  figures  of  gold  mined  in  but  one 
province  undoubtedly  show  that  the  gold  resources  of  the  Par 
Eastern  Republic  are  very  large. 


The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  enterprises  en- 
gaged in  gold  mining,  and  the  extent  of  their  production  in  1913: 


No.  oi 

Mines 

Area 

of  Mines  in 

Acres 

.a| 

6 

MH 

o 

2 

Q 

en   en   O 

bjQ  ~*j  rt  ^3 

M-H 

*s 

2 

o>  g 

liii 

0 

6 

a 

1 

§ 

_rt 

1 

1 

1 

II 

West 

Trans- 

baikal 

65 

124 

289 

413 

29,014.2 

64,511.1 

93,525.3 

3,387 

East 

Trans- 

baikal 

37 

79 

178 

257 

24,621.3 

39,673.8 

64,295.1 

4,456 

Amur 

31 

64 

102 

166 

19,404.9 

19,485.9 

38,890.8 

5,431 

Zeya 

65 

168 

397 

565 

54,774.9 

100,191.6 

154,966.5 

8,977 

Bureya 

33 

90 

119 

209 

32,883.3 

29,054.7 

61,938.0 

6,847 

Mari- 

time 

22 

48 

182 

230 

16,920.9 

50,063.4 

66,984.3 

3,306! 

Ussury 

4 

5 

60 

65 

1,193.4 

14,126  .4 

15,319.8 

391 

Ner- 

chinsk 

1 

10 

.... 

10 



2,640 

Total  in 

Far 

Eastern 

Republic 

258 

588 

3,327 

1,915 

178,812.9 

317,106.9 

495,919.8 

35,435 

Total  in 

the 

whole  of 

'  ".''  * 

Eastern 

I 

Siberia 

415 

901 

3,495 

4,396 

246,402.0 

767,453.4 

1,013,855.4 

51,114 

Total  in 

the 

whole  of 

Russia 

702 

1,751 

7,208 

8,959 

432,372.6 

1,327,584.6 

1,759,957.2 

88,608 

Regarding  the  gold  resources  in  Russia  in  general  and  the 
territory  at  present  occupied  by  the  Far  Eastern  Republic  in 
particular,  we  have  a  fully  competent  statement  of  a  Special 
Committee  convoked  in  1911  at  the  Petrograd  Advisory  Office 
of  owners  of  gold  and  platinum  mines,  as  well  as  a  report  made 
by  the  Mining  Engineer,  E.  E.  Anhert,  a  well  known  authority 
on  geological  gold  researches* 

With  reference  to  the  gold  mining  districts  in  the  Far  East- 
ern Republic,  the  statement  of  the  above  Committee  is,  in 
general,  as  follows: 

The  data  derived  from  geological  and  other  researches 
enables  us  to  state  that  our  deposits  contain  many  tens  of  thou- 


*One  pood— 36'.  11   pounds. 


sands  of  poods*  of  gold.  For  many  years  to  come  our  gold 
mining  industry  will  be  assured  of  sufficient  stocks  of  bullion, 
not  mentioning  the  probability  of  discoveries  of  new  deposits  in 
vast  and  non-investigated  territories  ,in  particular,  the  Maritime, 
Amur  and  Nerchinsk  districts.  Similar  deductions  have  been 
made  by  the  foreign  engineers,  mainly  American  and  British. 

Consequently,  there  is  a  basis  for  the  development  of  the 
gold  industry,  viz.,  the  resources,  it  being  only  necessary  to 
improve  the  mechanical  methods  and  to  secure  a  sufficient 
influx  of  foreign  capital. 

In  particular,  with  reference  to  the  Amur  and  Maritime 
Provinces,  the  Committee  stated  that  there  is  in  these  provinces 
a  gold-mining  deposit,  the  length  of  which  is  about  700  miles 
and  the  width  several  hundred  miles.  This  vast  area  has  been 
very  little  investigated  by  the  geologists,  practically  no  re- 
searches having  been  made.  From  theoretical  conjectures, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  considerable  gold  resources  are 
here. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  the  greatest  possi- 
bilities for  the  development  of  the  gold  industry  in  Eastern 
Siberia  and  the  Baikal  regions  are  in  the  Amur  province,  and 
in  the  territory  of  the  Nerchinsk  mining  district  (which  formerly 
was  the  property  of  the  Imperial  Crown  Lands) ,  and  that  later, 
when  mechanical  methods  of  gold  mining  are  applied,  the 
Bargusin,  Lower  Amur,  Maritime  and  Ussury  districts  will  pro- 
duce a  great  deal  of  gold.  Almost  no  researches  have  been 
made  at  the  Uda,  Shantara  and  Sakhalien  districts.  According 
to  data  on  hand,  these  districts  are  aso  of  great  interest  as  far 
as  gold  industry  is  concerned. 

Engineer  Anhert  draws  the  following  conclusions  regarding 
Russia's  gold  resources  on  the  basis  of  the  past  experiences  of 
the  Russian  gold  mining  industry  and  taking  into  consideration 
the  number  of  claims  for  which  applications  have  been  filed,  and 
also  the  actual  number  of  claims  granted: 

1.  In  1910  for  each  gold  mine  that  was  being  worked  there 
were  3.65  which  were  not  being  worked.  In  1913  for  each  gold 
mine  that  was  being  worked  there  were  4.11  which  were  not 
being  worked.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  owners 
kept  a  certain  number  of  mines  in  reserve. 


2.  In  the   old   gold   mining  regions   of  Russia  there  still 
remain  139,000  poods  of  slich  gold,  although  from  these  districts 
231,000  poods  have  already  been  extracted.     Thus  the  total 
resources  of  gold  in  these  districts  were  370,000  poods* 

3.  With  the  development  of  the  mechanical  methods  of 
exploitation  of  gold  mines,  mining  districts  can  be  worked  which 
were  previously  considered  unprofitable  because  of  the  low  gold 
content,  and  mines  which  contained  from  three  to  ten  times 
less  than  what  was  considered  minimum  by  application  of  man- 
ual labor,  will  be  found  profitable  When  worked  by  mechanical 
means.     Many  districts  which  wtere  given  up  as  hopeless  or 
exhausted  are  now  once  more  being  worked.     Consequently 
mines  were  constantly  changing  hands.     It  may  be  said  with 
certainty  that  the  number  of  mines  which  were   considered 
worthless-  or  exhausted  or  which  were  abandoned  for  other  rea- 
sons by  their  prospectors,  were  very  few  in  number  in  the  Par 
Eastern  Republic.    According  to  the  figures  of  Engineer  Anhert, 
less  than  10%  of  the  gold  mines  in  the  territory  of  the  Far 
Eastern  Republic  have  been  exhausted. 

4.  Taking  into  consideration  all  the  sources  of  gold  deposits 
for  which  no  claims  were  filed  because  the  mines  were  supposed 
to  be  unprofitable  for  development  by  manual  labor,  Engineer 
Anhert  estimates  that  the  probable  remaining  quantity  of  gold 
in  the  old  gold  producing  districts  is  183,000  poods  of  slich  gold, 
which   can   be    extracted   by   the    application    of   mechanical 
methods. 

5.  Engineer  Anhert  estimates  that  the  total  of  the  Russian 
untouched  gold  deposits  is  no  less  than  1%  times  the  total  quan- 
tity of  the  initial  resources  of  the  old  gold  mining  districts  of 
Russia,  and  that  the  total  untouched  resources  of  gold  in 
Russia  are  620,000  poods  (10,333  1-3  tons).  Figuring  the  cost 
of  a  pood  of  gold  at  20,000  gold  rubles,  the  total  value  of 
Russia's  gold  resources  is  12,400,000,000  gold  rubles. 

On  the  basis  of  these  calculations  of  the  entire  gold  re- 
sources of  Russia,  gold  resources  of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic 
amount  to  4,133,000,000  gold  rubles. 

An  analysis  of  the  figures  in  the  tables  presented  above  will 
show  that  although  the  territory  of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic 
produced  33%  of  Russia's  gold  production,  it  employed  40%  of 

8 


the  total  number  of  workers.  This  is  explained  by  the  fact  that 
in  the  territory  occupied  by  the  Par  Eastern  Republic  there  was 
little  application  of  mechanical  methods,  the  work  being  done 
chiefly  by  manual  labor. 

A  Russian  geologist,  Yavorovsky,  called  the  attention  of  the 
committee  above  mentioned  to  the  fact  that  While  the  total 
population  of  the  Amur  Province  was  at  that  time  300,000,  there 
were  actually  employed  80,000  Chinese  and  Koreans  in  the  gold 
mines  of  the  province.  The  official  figures  showed  that  only 
40,000  people  of  the  yellow  race  were  engaged  in  the  gold 
mining  industry. 

Some  of  the  mines  in  the  Amur  district  were  worked  by 
purely  chemical  means  which  were  very  injurious  to  the  mines. 

Lately,  because  of  war  and  revolution,  and  because  of  for- 
eign intervention,  particularly  Japanese,  the  gold  industry 
suffered  a  great  deal.  Because  of  the  evacuation  of  Japanese 
troops  from  the  Amur  and  Zabaikal  provinces  and  because  of  the 
effords  made  by  the  government  oi)  [the  Par  Eastern  Republic 
the  gold  industry  in  the  Par  Eastern  Republic  is  beginning  to 
revive.  The  influx  of  capital  and  the  application  of  mechanical 
methods  of  development  are  necessary  in  order  to  develop  the 
gold  mining  indutry  in  the  Par  Eastern  Republic  in  proportion 
to  its  resources. 


CHAPTER  IP 
THE  GOLD  MINING  INDUSTRY  IN  THE  AMUR  PROVINCE 

THE  ZEYA  GOLD-BEARING  DISTRICT 

The  Zeya  gold-bearing  district  is  situated  in  the  basin  of 
the  river  Zeya  which  commences  in  the  southern  descent  of  the 
Yablonov  mountain  chain.  The  length  of  the  river  is  766  miles. 
At  the  discharge  of  Zeya  into  Amur  is  situated  the  town 
Blagoveshchensk,  the  center  of  administration  of  the  Amur 
Province.  This  part  of  the  Amur  River  is  fully  navigable.  The 
navigation  along  the  River  Zeya  is  due  solely  to  the  gold  indus- 
try, but  no  sufficient  survey  of  the  river  has  been  made  as  yet. 
The  river  is  navigable  along  a  distance  of  610  miles,  and  the 
principal  point  of  lively  and  regular  navigation  is  the  "Zeyskaia 
Pristan"  (Port),  which  is  133  miles  from  Blagoveshchensk  and 
266  miles  from  the  town  of  Svobodny  (formerly  Alekseevsk). 
The  main  ports  are:  Blagoveshchensk,  Mazonovo  and  Zeya- 
Pristan.  In  1909  there  were  shipped  from  the  Zeya-Pristan 
goods  totalling  560,000  tons  and  there  were  received  1,000,000 
tons. 

From  the  left  side  a  tributary,  Selendja,  considerably  navi- 
gable and  431  miles  long  and  80  miles  away  from  the  railway, 
discharges  itself  into  Zeya.  There  are  other  tributaries  on  the 
left  side  of  Zeya,  viz.,  Depp,  Urkan,  Arga;  on  the  right  side, 
Tok  with  Urgan,  Brianta  with  Unaha  (Ilikan  and  Utuge), 
Giluy  (with  Big  Djeltula  and  Small  Djeltulak),  Urkan  (with 
Djelanda) . 

The  rivers  of  the  Zeya  district — Zeya,  Giluy,  Brianta,  Una- 
ha, etc.,  are  of  the  greater  importance. 

The  greater  part  of  the  region  under  review  is  situated 
in  the  northern  descent  of  the  mountain  range  Tukuringaa 
which  is  extended  along  the  right  bank  of  the  Giluy  up  to  the 

10 


valley  of  the  River  Zeya  and  to  the  left  bank  of  the  River  Giluy 
under  another  name. 

Along  the  left  bank  of  the  river  Giluy  are  to  be  seen  a  row 
of  volcanoes,  the  highest  of  which  is  4,000  feet.  To  the  north 
of  the  left  bank  of  the  Giluy  mountain  chain  is  extended  a  slope- 
hillock  locality  which  is  a  low  plateau  (altitude  2,800  feet), 
divided  by  numerous  valleys.  The  whole  of  this  country  may 
be  said  to  be  the  prototype  of  woody  mountainous  Siberian 
swamp  which  is  at  the  water-sheds  mossy  and  in  the  valleys 
marshy.  In  the  direction  of  the  mouths  of  the  rivers  Brianta, 
Dambuka  and  Magota,  the  wjhole  locality  gradually  grows  lower, 
until  it  coincides  with  the  chalice  line  extension  of  the  alluvial 
valley  of  the  river  Zeya. 

GEOLOGICAL  STRUCTURE 

The  Archaen  middle-sized,  light  gray  granites  constitute 
two  considerably  large  even  areas  along  the  rivers  Ilikan  and 
Brianta* 

In  the  structure  of  the  locality  the  most  important  part  is 
played  by  the  gneisses.  Nearly  the  whole  territory  is  made  up 
of  this  mineral  with  the  exception  of  small  areas  of  granites 
and  the  Jurassic  precipitates. 

Among  the  gneisses,  but  in  lesser  quantity,  is  found  horne- 
blende,  which  is  noted  for  its  gold-ore  making  qualities.  The 
Jurassic  precipitates  are  composed  of  conglomerates,  sandstones 
and  argilites,  as  well  as  of  crystallic  limestones  and  phyllites. 

The  massive  crytallic  rocks  consist  of  two  dissimilar  groups. 
The  greater  number  are  granites,  with  veins  of  aplites  and  quartz 
porphyries.  More  rare  are  the  diabastos  and  prophyrites,  The 
vein-quartzes  are  chiefly  of  the  watery-transparent  varieties. 

The  auriferous  sands  in  all  probability  can  be  traced  to 
pliocenes.  They  are  represented  by  channel  types,  as  well  as 
by  the  so-called  "bench"  types. 

The  valleys  of  the  larger  rivers  are  made  of  the  present-day 
deposits,  left  there  by  running  waters.  They  all  contain  gold, 
and,  therefore,  may  be  regarded  as  the  present  day  auriferous 
sands.  Most  attention  must  be  paid  to  the  auriferous  sands  of 
the  river  Zeya  and  the  sands  of  the  lower  part  of  Unaha  and 
Brianta. 

11 


GOLD   CONTENT 

According  to  the  opinion  of  local  geologists,  the  original 
source  of  the  earth's  gold  is  the  mineral-mass  of  the  gneiss* 
nature,  and,  in  particular,  the  horneblende  contained  therein* 
That  rocks  which  contain  horneblende  in  great  quantites  are 
exceedingly  auriferous  is  a  fact  beyond  question.  It  has  been 
definitely  established. 

Of  the  considerable  important  auriferous  rocks  there  are 
also  the  granite  rocks — pegmatite,  aplite.  All  rich  deposits  are 
in  the  region  where  these  rocks  are  found  in  great  abundance. 

Vein-quartzes  as  a  rule  show  but  little  gold  content. 

Auriferous  sands  which  are  considerably  rich  in  gold  are 
those  which  are  found  among  gray  gneisses,  amidst  veins  of 
granite. 

Among  the  present-day  gold  sands  deposited  by  flowing 
water  are  almost  all  those  in  the  mouths  of  Unaha,  Brianta,  and 
other  important  rivers.  For  instance,  at  the  place  of  discharge 
of  Unaha  into  Brianta  there  is  $0.75-$1.50  gold  to  each  ton  of 
gold-bearing  gravel. 

There  is  the  probability  that  gold  is  contained  in  the  Juras- 
sic deposits,  left  after  the  breaking  up  of  the  gneiss's  thickness. 

Mines  which  contained  such  quantities  of  gold  as  yield  $8.00 
and  more  to  each  ton  (as  the  mine  of  Djalon),  may  be  regarded 
as  exhausted.  At  the  present  time  mines  containing  $0.90  and 
$1.50  in  a  ton  are  being  worked. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  within  the  gneiss'  area  there  is  quite 
a  good  deal  of  auriferous  sand  deposits,  the  contents  of  which 
are  less  rich,  which  have  not  been  worked  as  yet.  With  the 
improvement  of  economic  conditions  all  these  deposits,  and  later 
the  poorer  ones,  will  begin  to  be  worked,  thus  rendering  possible 
a  lengthy  existence  of  mining. 

At  the  present  the  following  are  of  importance  in  gold 
mining: 

1)  "The  Gold  Mountain"— at  the  head  of  the  river  Hudger 

(system  of  Giluia)     . 

2)  Tributary  Uspensky  along  the  river  Djuwaskite  (system 

of  Giluy). 

3)  Ore  veins  of  theljDjalindsky  region. 

A  more  detailed  report  on  the  nature  of  gold-content  can 

12 


be  obtained  by  uniting  the  various  deposits  in  groups.  In  this 
connection,  the  grouping  is  made:  first — according  to  their  situ- 
ation in  the  same  river  system;  second — according  to  the  simi- 
larity in  organization,  exploitation  and  means  of  labor;  third — 
as  to  the  administration  being  common;  fourth — as  to  the  like- 
ness of  the  origin,  structure  and  the  contents  of  the  deposits; 
fifth — as  to  the  conditions  of  the  means  of  supplying  foodstuffs 
and  goods;  sixth — as  to  the  common  means  of  communications. 

1.  Group  of  mines  along  the  lower  part  of  the  river  Unaga. 

2.  "  Big,  Medium  and  small  Uldekite 

3.  "  the  fower  part  of  the  river  Ilikana 

4.  "  rivers  Big  and  Small  Emak 

5.  "  river  Djalta 

6.  "  river  Djaion 

7.  "  the/  middle  part  of  the  river  Ilikana 

8.  "  Big  and  Small  Smulen 

9.  "  upper  part  of  the  river  Ilikana 

10.  "  middle  part  and  upper  part  of  the  river 

Unaha 
11  "  r.  Brianta  with  tributaries:  Utuegi, 

Sivak,  Ugagli 

12.  "  r.  Kudachi  and  Dambuke 

13.  "  Big  and/,  Small  rivers  Mogota 

14.  "  rivers  Konmuni-Iliagir,  Djagda-Iliagir, 

Belaya 

15.  "  Ugan  and  Amundjak 

16.  "  lower  part  of  the  river  Giluy 

17.  "  middle  part  (of  the  river  Giluy 

18.  "  upper  part  of  the  river  Gilluy 

19.  "  r.  Suchdjary  and  Gargan 

20.  "  the  river  Toka 

21.  "  the  river  Suchdjarikan  and  Nolda 

22.  "  the  river  Gullik  and  the  middle  part  and 

lower  part  of  the  river  Urkan 

23.  "  the  river  Djalinda 

24.  "  the  river  Ingagly 

25.  "  the  river  'Yankan 

13 


All  the  groups  can  be  united  into  four  systems: 

1)  The  system  of  the  middle  part  of  Zeya  and  Giluy.  .247  areas 

2)  The  system  of  the  upper  part  of  Zeya 23     " 

3)  The  system  of  the  lower  part  of  Zeya 11     " 

4)  The  system  of  Urkan  and  Oldoy. 50     " 

331  areas 

In  the  whole  of  the  District  there  were  in  operation  105 
mines  (1907)  of  which  number  75  were  situated  as  follows: 

In  the  system  Giluy 20  mines 

Unaha    10      " 

L.  DJalta   15      " 

Djalon    17 

Magot    7       " 

Dombuk 6       " 

Along  the  other  rivers  there  were  in  operation  from  one  to 
three  mines.  The  output  in  the  Zeya  district  was  as  follows: 

In  1901  about 7,200  Ibs. 

1902  "  72,900  " 

1903  "  7,740  " 

1904  "  4,572  " 

1905  "  3,222  " 

1906  "  2,070  " 

1907  " 1,872  " 

THE  FIRST  SYSTEM  of  the  middle-part-of-Zeya  and  Giluy 
occupies  the  central  place  in  the  District  and  is  of  great  import- 
ance as  to  the  output  of  gold.  To  the  first  system  belong  eight- 
een of  the  above-named  groups  of  mines,  where  there  are  situ- 
ated 247  areas  of  the  total  of  331  areas  in  the  entire  Zeya 
system. 

1.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  Lower  Part  of  the  River  Unaha. 

In  the  group  of  mines  situated  in  the  Valley  of  Unaha,  be« 
tween  Uldekite  and  Ango,  five  mines  have  been  at  work  solely 
on  the  basis  of  payment  to  workers  being  made  in  gold.  The 
river  Unaha  flows  through  a  narrow  valley  bound  by  high  abrupt 
slopes,  and  sometimes,  by  abrupt  cliffs.  After  the  mouth  of 

y 


Ilikan,  the  river  makes  a  lot  of  zigzags,  flowing  through  a  gneiss* 
stratum.  At  three  miles  above  the  discharge  into  Brianta,  the 
valley  does  not  extend  itself  considerably,  the  banks  having  the 
form  of  slopes.  There  is  a  possibility  of  existence  here  of  a  rich 
deposit  made  by  flowing  water.  The  thickness  of  a  layer  is  2 
feet;  the  turf  is  4  feet*  Partly  by  way  of  packroads,  partly  by 
trails,  the  river  is  connected  with  the  Dambukitsky  Storehouse. 

2.  Group  of  Mines  of  Big,  Medium  and  Small  Uldekite. 

Applications  have  been  filed  for  19  areas,  situated  along  the 
river  Big  Uldekite  (the  right  tributary  of  the  river  Unaha)  with 
its  left  tributaries  Middle  and  Small  ,Uldekite. 

The  river  Big  Uldekite  (17  miles)  flows  across  a  gneiss 
stratum  full  of  folds.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  deposits,  varying 
in  contents  and  standard,  and  in  the  shape  of  lying  in  the 
earth.  The  layer  is  2-7  feet,  turf  2-12  feet.  The  average  com- 
pound contents  of  gold  is  $1.35  to  one  ton. 

3.  Group  of  Mines  Along  the  Lower  Part  of  the  River  Ilikan. 

The  lower  part  of  the  river  Ilikan,  in  its  valley,  along  a 
length  of  20  miles  up  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Sigulen,  there  are 
eight  areas.  Gold  of  average  size — $0.90-$1.50,  average  fineness 
953  (953:1000).  The  layer— 3  feet.  The  average  compound 
contents  of  gold  is  $1.00.  The  fall  of  Ilikan  is  0.0018-0.002* 
The  flow  of  water — 283  cubic  feet  in  a  second. 

The  ground  is  always  frozen. 

4.  Group  of  Mines  of  Rivers  Big  and  Small  Emak. 

The  river  Emak  discharges  itself  on  the  right  side  into 
Ilikan.  The  length  of  Emak  is  9  miles.  Along  it  there  is  a  small 
group  of  mines.  The  width  of  the  valley — 5-7  feet.  The  fall  is 
0.013.  There  are  often  floods  which  affect  the  works  badly. 
The  layer,  2-4  feet;  turf,  7-11  feet.  Compound  contents  of  gold 
$0.90-$1.50.  Gold  of  average  size.  Average  fineness,  952.5. 

5.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  River  Djalta. 

The  upper  part  of  the  river  Djalta  is  of  gneisses,  while  the 
lower  part  is  of  granites.  The  upper  part  of  the  mine:  the  layer, 

15 


5  feet;  turf,  7  feet.  Th  compound  contents  of  gold  $2.40.  Pine- 
ness,  960.  After  the  Djalonsk  group  this  is  the  richest  group  of 
the  Zeya  region.  The  river  freezes  by  October  lst-20th,  thawing 
from  April  10th-20th.  The  method  of  mechanical  delivery  of 
sands  for  washing  has  been  used. 

6.  Group  of  Mines  Along  the  River  Djalon. 

The  group  of  mines  along  the  river  Djalon  is  situated  in 
the  center  of  the  system  of  the  right  tributaries  of  the  middle 
part  of  the  river  Zeya.  It  is  one  of  the  two  richest  mining  groups 
of  the  whole  Zeya  region.  Twelve  gold  mines  which  have  been 
at  work  are  situated  along  the  channel  and  the  "benches"  of 
the  river  Djalon.  The  length  of  the  valley  is  5  miles.  The  width 
is  700  feet.  It  break's  into  granular  granite.  The  layer  is  12 
feet;  turf,  7  feet.  The  compound  contents  of  gold,  $3.33* 

Gold  grains  are  of  small  size,  scaly — in  the  lower  and  middle 
part  of  the  deposit.  Fineness  970.  In  the  upper  parts  they  are 
of  greater  size  (fineness  951). 

Ore  gold  has  been  found  on  the  right  slope  of  the  valley 
of  river  Djalon.  Applications  have  been  filed  for  two  areas,  but 
no  work  has  been  done.  According  to  rumors,  in  the  massive 
Djalon  granite  diamond  boring  was  made  in  order  to  find  gold- 
containing  veins. 

7.  Group  of  Mines  in  the  Middle  Part  of  the  River  Ilikan. 

To  this  group  belong: 

1)  The  river  Sanar  (the  right  tributary  of  Ilikan).     The 
valley  is  deep  and  wide.    The  compound  contents  of  gold,  $1.35. 
Fineness,  951. 

2)  The  river  L.  Djendagli  (right  tributary  of  Ilikan.    Gen- 
eral characteristics:  Layer,  12  feet;  turf,  7-28  feet.    Compound 
content  of  gold,  $1.50.    Gold  varying  (nuggets  up  to  0.1  lb.). 
Average  fineness,  940.5. 

8.  Group  of  Mines  of  Big  and  Small  Sigulen. 

The  river  Big  Sigulen  (left  tributary  of  Ilikan).  Width, 
140-350  feet.  Gold  of  large  size  in  the  upper  part  of  valley; 
gold  of  small  size  in  the  lower  part  of  the  valley. 

16 


The  layer,  5  feet;  turf,  18  feet;  average  fineness,  912.  Com- 
pound content  of  gold,  $1.32. 

All  the  groups  which  have  been  reviewed  so  far  (from  3-8) 
form  a  series  of  central  mines  of  the  Zeya  system.  Most  of  the 
work  has  been  of  a  preliminary  nature. 

9.  Group  of  Mines  Along  the  Upper  Part  of  the  River  Ilikan. 

The  group  of  right  tributaries  of  the  upper  part  of  the  river 
Ilikan  is  connected  by  a  vista  (20  miles  long)  with  the  central 
mines.  The  vista  is  accessible  in  winter,  but  very  marshy  and 
dusty  in  summer. 

The  river  Arga  (the  right  tributary  of  Ilikan).  One  mine 
Ilynsky.  The  layer,  2  feet;  turf,  7  feet.  The  compound  content 
of  gold,  $0.75. 

The  mines  along  the  river  Olongro  (the  right  tributary  of 
Ilikan)  were  not  being  worked. 

The  river  Amunachi  (the  right  tributary  of  Ilikan).  The 
layer,  3  feet;  turf,  12  feet.  The  compound  content  of  gold, 
$0.76.  Fineness,  934. 

10.  Group  of  Mines  Along  the  Middle  and  Upper  Part  of  the 

River  Unaha. 

The  river  Unaha  and  its  tributary  Besimyannaya  (drop 
0.02)  and  Thema.  The  majority  of  mines  are  those  having  the 
channels  of  the  river  containing  gold.  One  hillock  mine  (Ya- 
sonov  Klad)  has  been  at  work.  The  layer,  3  feet;  turf,  7  feet. 
The  compound  content  of  gold,  $0.82.  Fineness,  867.  Sub- 
stance of  rocks:  Biotite  gneiss  (including  numerous  layers  of 
pegmatites.  On  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Besimyannaya  near 
Yasonov  Klad  there  was  one  mine  for  which  an  application  was 
filed,  but  no  work  had  been  done  there. 

River  Olongro  and  its  right  tributary  Burgali.  In  this  group 
there  was  only  one  mine  at  work;  connected  with  a  vista,  partly 
marshy.  In  summer  access  to  it  can  be  had  only  by  packroad. 
The  layer,  5  feet;  turf,  11  feet.  The  compound  content  of  gold, 
$1.02.  A  constituent  of  the  rocks  is  the  sulphurous  pyrite,  the 
principal  of  it  being  green-stone  rocks  which  are  especially  rich. 
Nuggets  are  not  found  at  all.  The  width  of  the  river  Unaha  in 
this  place  is  210-280  feet.  Drop,  0.0017  feet.  The  extraction  of 

37 


gold  from  the  channel  can  be  made  by  means  of  a  dredge  only. 

11.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  River  Brianta  with  Tributaries. 
This  group,  consisting  of  four  mines,  is  '.situated  off  the 

central  mines.  The  delivery  of  goods  by  boat  is  possible  along 
the  river  Brianta  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Utugei. 

There  is  a  considerable  increase  along  the  river  Brianta, 
and  its  tributaries  of  deposits  made  by  flowing  water.  In  all 
probability,  they  are  gold-containing.  Therefore  hope  is  enter- 
tained that  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  river  Brianta  and  its  tribu- 
taries Utugei,  Sivak  and  Ugagli  work  can  be  done  by  means  of 
improved  methods.  The  dredging  of  the  channel  and  the  sand 
banks  of  the  river  Brianta  is  but  a  matter  of  time. 

12.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  River  Kudachi  and  River  Dambuk 
The  river  Dambuk,  the  right  tributary  of  the  middle  part 

of  Zeya,  flows  through  a  gneiss'  thickness.  Pour  mines.  The 
.layer,  5  feet;  turf,  9  feet.  The  average  compound  content  of 
gold,  $1.00. 

The  river  Kudachi  (Kuduli)  is  the  right  tributary  of  the 
river  Brianta.  Three  mines.  The  layer,  5  feet;  turf,  8  feet.  The 
average  compound  content  of  gold,  $0.94. 

13.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  Rivers  Big  and  Small  Mogot. 

To  this  group  belong  the  rivers  Big  Mogot  and  Small  Mogot, 
and  Besimyannaya  (the  right  tributary  of  the  Big  Mogot). 
There  are  in  this  group  15  areas,  5  mines.  The  layer,  5  feet; 
turf,  9  feet.  Th  average  compound  content  of  gold,  $1.28.  The 
average  fineness,  868. 

The  river  Big  Mogot  (20  miles  long),  4, mines*  A  wide 
valley  is  situated  along  the  gneiss'  thickness.  Average  drop, 
0.0107. 

The  river  Small  Mogot  (14  miles  long;  the  tributary  of  the 
Big  Mogot).  Applications  have  been  filed  for  4  areas. 

The  river  Besimyannaya  (the  right  tributary  of  the  Big 
Mogot) ;  applications  have  been  filed  for  8  areas. 

14.. Groups  of  Mines  of  River  Kongamuni-Uliagir,  Djagda-Uliagir 

and  River  Belaya. 
The  group  of  mines  situated  along  the  river  Kongamuni- 

18 


Uliagir  consist  of  4  areas.  The  average  compound  content  of 
gold,  $0.91.  Fineness,  898. 

Djagda-Uliagir,  3  areas.  The  average  compound  content  of 
gold,  $1.19.  Fineness,  878.5. 

The  groups  are  near  to  the  Dambukitsky  Storehouse.  The 
mines  are  situated  in  the  most  upper  parts  of  the  river.  The 
dike  is  biotite  and  horneblende  gneisses.  These  gneisses  and 
the  veins  of  horneblende  granite,  pegmatite  and  aplite  intersect 
each  other. 

Among  these  is  included  Belaya  (Besimyannaya),  8  miles 
long  With  three  areas.  The  layer,  2^  feet;  turf,  10  feet.  The 
average  compound  content  of  gold,  $1.22.  The  average  fineness, 
896. 

15.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  Rivers  Ugan  and  Amundjik. 

The  river  Ugan  (12  miles  long;  the  drop  0.0114),  12  areas. 
The  river  becomes  frozen  by  November  lst-15th,  while 
the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  takes  place  by  the  first  of  May.  The 
water  in  the  river  is  high  (floods)  twice  a  year — in  May  (from 
the  thawing  of  the  snow),  and  in  August  (from  rains).  The 
draught  lasts  from  May  15th  to  June  20th.  The  dike,  biotite 
and  horneblende,  gneisses  and  slates  with  sulphurous  pyrites. 
The  layer,  4  feet;  turf,  12  feet.  The  average  compound  content 
of  gold,  $1.15.  Fineness,  889.  The  river  S*  Amundjak  (the  right 
tributary  of  Zeya) .  Applications  have  been  filed  for  three  areas. 

16.  Group  of  Mines  of  the  Lower  Part  of  the  River  Giluy. 

The  group  is  situated  in  the  lower  part  of  the  river  Giluy, 
with  its  trubutaries,  Utenak  (the  left  tributary  of  Giluy)  and 
Nijni  Chimgan  (the  right  tributary  of  Giluy).  The  lower  part 
of  the  valley  of  the  river  Giluy  is  bound  by  high  slopes  and  often 
by  abrupt  cliffs.  Large  sandbars  are  rare,  in  view  of  which  it 
is  little  fit  for  regular  works.  Many  cataracts.  The  drop,  0.001. 
All  along,  54  miles,  are  developed  gneisses  and  granite-gneisses 
with  quartz  veins  of  the  shape  of  a  layer.  The  layer  is  2  feet; 
turf — 7  feet.  The  average  compound  ^content  of  gold — $1.11. 
Fineness — 888.  Applications  for  nine  areas  have  been  filed. 

17.  Group  of  mines  of  the  middle  part  of  the  R.  Giluy. 

The  middle  Giluy  is  superior  to  all  other  parts  of  Giluy  for 

19 


the  quantity  and  richness  of  the  mines.    Applications  for  seven 
areas  have  been  filed. 

The  river  Upper  Kamray  (the  left  tributary  ,-of  the  river 
Giluy,  near  Argaskite).  Appli cations  have  been  filed  for  two 
areas.  jThe  valley  is  6  miles  long,  considerably  narrow,  and 
abrupt.  Situated  among  mica  and  horneblende  gneisses  inter- 
sected with  veins  of  half  transparent,  partly  smoky  quartz 
(dark  quartz  which  is, not  transparent),  and  considerably  large 
veins  of  reddish  pegmatites. 

River  Argaskite  (the  right  tribuatry  of  Giluy).  The  valley 
is  six  miles  long.  One  mine.  There  can  also  be  seen  a  gneiss 
syncline.  The  river  Daburkit  with  a  right  tributary  Hugder. 
Applications  for  11  areas  have  been  filed.  The  mines  of  the 
river  Hugder  are  of  two  kinds:  the  modern — the  channel  mines 
which  are  situated  up-the-river;  the  old  fashioned  "bench" 
mines  which  are  situated  down-the-river.  Judging  from  the 
considerable  difference  in  the  fineness  of  the  gold  of  the  upper 
and  lower  part  of  the  valley,  uneven  distribution,  the  channel 
mines  are  situated  at  the  mother  lode.  The  layer — 5  feet; 
turf — 8  feet.  The  average  compound  content  of  gold — $1.28. 
The  "bench"  mines  are  known  for  the  large  gold-sand-allu- 
vium, uneven  but  rich  content  of  gold. 

The  river  Djevaskite  (the  right  tributary  of  Giluy,  14  miles 
to  the* ;  north  of  the  mouth  of  Dabukit).  The  width  of  the 
marshy  valley,  8  miles,  the  length — 26  miles.  Applications  have 
been  filed  for  12  areas. 

The  general  characteristic  of  the  group:  layer — 5  feet;  turf 
— 7  feet.  The  average  compound  content  of  gold — $1.35.  Fine- 
ness— 958. 

i 
18.  Group  of  mines  of  the  upper  part  of  the  river  Giluy. 

The  Upper  Giluy.  Applications  for  28  areas  have  been 
filed.  7  mines  are  being  worked. 

To  this  group  belong:  the  river  Amunachi  (the  left  tribu- 
tary of  Giluy;  the  rivers  Luchi,  Ika,  Talma).  The  layer— 2  feet; 
turf — 7  feet.  The  average  compound  content  of  gold — $0.86. 
River  Taiga.  The  layer — 3  feet;  turf — 9  feet.  Average  com- 
pound consent  of  gold — $1.91;  the  river  Djeltula  and  the  river 
Djeltulak. 

20 


All  three  groups  of  mines  situated  in  the  basin  of  the 
river  Giluy  (Lower,  Middle  and  Upper)  are  lying  among  gneiss 
network,  with  numerous  outlets  of  pegmatites  and  aplites.  All 
mentioned  substances  of  rocks  contain  often  ingredients  of 
sulphurous  and  copper  pyrites  and  magnite  iron-ore. 

THE  SECOND  SYSTEM,  covering  the  mines  of  the  right 
tributaries  of  the  river  Upper  Zeya,  is  situated  along  the  tribu- 
taries of  the  river  Tok  and  is  way  off  the  central  mines  of  the 
river  Zeya. 

In  summer  the  communication  between  the  mines  is  by 
ships  and  boats;  in  winter — by  sledges  along  the  jce  of  the 
river  (from  November  to  April)  as  far  as  the  Dambukitsky 
storehouse.  During  almost  two  and  a  half  months  communi- 
cation between  the  mines  is  carried  on  along  the  marshy 
forests'  pathway  (from  the  mines  Yasonov  Klad — 167  miles) 
solely  by  reindeers. 

19.  Group  of  mines  of  the  rivers  Suchdjari  and  Gargan. 

The  river  Big  Suchdjari  (the  right  tributary  of  Zeya,  about 
104  miles  above  (to  the  north)  the  Dambukitsky  Residence. 
Applications  for  eight  areas  have  been  filed. 

The  river  Gargan  (the  right  tributary  of  Zeya,  14  miles 
above  Suchdjari).  Applications  have  been  filed  for  two  areas. 
One  mine  at  work. 

General  characteristics:  layer — 5  feet;  turf — 15  feet.  The 
average  compound  content  of  gold — $2.63.  Fineness — 779. 

20.  Group  of  the  mines  of  the  river  Tok. 

The  river  Tok — 132  miles  long.  6  mines  are  at  work. 
With  the  exception  of  one  mine  situated  at  the  bank  of  the  right 
tributary  of  the  river  Tok-Haraganjo,  all  the  others  are  situated 
along  the  river  Sivakan  (the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Tok, 
20  miles  off  the  mouth).  Means  of  communication  are  very 
difficult. 

River  Sivakan.  7  areas  have  been  applied  for.  The  layer 
— 5  feet;  turf — 7  feet.  The  average  compound  gold  content— 
$1.34. 

21.  Group  of  mines  of  the  rivers  Suchjarikan  and  Nolda. 
The  little  group  with  three  areas  is  situated  off  the  central 

21 


district  along  the  Suchjarikan  and  its  left  tributary  Nolda. 
Communication  is  carried  on  by  packroads.  Gneisses  and 
granite-gneisses  with  veins  of  pegmatite  and  aplite.  This  dis- 
trict is  similar  to  that  of  Middle  Zeya  as  far  as  the  situation  of 
rocks  and  their  character  are  concerned.  Known  for  the  low 
fineness  of  gold — 816,  but  the  mines  are  very  rich. 

THE  THIRD  SYSTEM  is  situated  along  the  right  tribu- 
taries of  the  lower  part  of  the  river  Zeya. 

22.  Group  of  mines  of  the  rivers  Gullik  and  Ukran  (the  lower 

and  middle  part  of  the  river). 

The  river  Gullik.    One  mine  at  work. 

The  river  Urkan  (the  lower  and  middle  part  of  the  river) . 
Applications  for  ten  areas  have  been  filed.  The  group  was  being 
worked  on  the  basis  of  the  workmen  being  paid  in  gold.  Par 
away  from  the  warehouses  and  miners*  homes.  The  average 
fineness — 845. 

THE  FOURTH  SYSTEM  is  also  off  the  Zeya  district;  the 
system  is  situated  along  the  upper  part  of  the  river  Urkan  and 
its  right  tributaries  Djilinda  and  Ingagli,  as  well  as  along  the 
river  Jankan  belonging  to  the  system  Oldoya  (the  left  tributary 
of  Amur).  The  majority  of  works  are  carried  on  by  lease- 
holders. A  common  good  horse-road,  70  miles  long,  connects 
the  group  with  the  harbor  Reinovo,  s.  Amur.  Sometimes  the 
communication  is  carried  on  by  camels. 

23.  Group  of  mines  of  the  river  Djalinda. 

River  Djalinda  (the  right  tributary  of  Urkan).  Gold  ore 
has  been  discovered  at  the  southern  slope  of  Djalindinda  Goltz 
at  the  summit  of  the  left  side  of  the  right  summit  of  this  river. 
Applications  have  been  filed  for  9  areas,  but  no  extraction  of 
gold  ore  has  been  made.  The  surveying  consisted  of  divid- 
ing into  squares,  the  installation  of  shafts  and  "Stollen"  for 
tracing  of  veins  contained  in  the  granite.  The  content  of  gold 
is  from  $3.75  to  $13.50  for  each  ton. 

24.  Group  of  mines  of  the  river  Ingagli. 

The  river  Ingagli  (the  right  tributary  of  the  S.  Urkan); 
applications  have  been  filed  for  6  areas.  Flows  through  gneiss' 

22 


granites.    The  layer — 2  feet;  turf — 11  feet.    The  average  com- 
pound gold  content — $1.20.     Average  fineness — 955. 

25.    Group  of  mines  of  the  river  Yankan. 

The  river  Yankan  (the  right  tributary  of  Krestovka  which 
is  the  left  tributary  of  Oldoy)  flows,  alike  to  the1  river  Djalinda, 
through  a  land  stratum  of  metamorphic  schists,  phyllites,  sand- 
stones, conglomerates,  limestones,  and  various  schists.  The 
land-thickness  is  intersected  by  veins  of  prophyrites,  and  home- 
blende  of  the  granite  type,  and  is  situated,  on  reaching  the  lake, 
near  the  granite  Djalindinda  Goltz.  Some  qartz  veins  intersect 
granite,  as  well  as  metamorphic  schists.  More  than  18  gold- 
bearing  veins  have  been  discovered,  but  no  development  in  the 
work  has  been  made. 

THE  SELIMDJA  AND  NIMAN  DISTRICTS. 
The  Selimdja  District. 

General  Survey — The  river  Selimdja,  the  left  and  consider- 
ably large  tributary  of  the  river  Zeya,  is  situated  at  the  north- 
west slope  of  the  mountainous  chain  Yam  Alin,  which  is  one  of 
the  branches  of  the  northern  boundary  of  the^Burein  mountain 
range,  or  the  small  Hingan. 

The  whole  length  of  the  river  (from  head  to  mouth)  is 
about  400  miles;  the  river's  fall  is  3,444  feet,  and  the  average 
fall  amounts  to  Q.0017. 

As  regards  the  surface  of  the  basin  of  the  river  Selimdja 
from  the  head  up  to  winter  camp,  the  surface  is  hilly;  down  to 
the  mouth  the  surface  is  plain.  The  river  Selimdja  is  fit  for 
navigation  up  to  the  Norsk  warehouse  only,  viz.  along  the  dis- 
tance of  84  miles,  and,  further,  to  the  north  to  the  Ikimchan 
Storehouse,  only  by  vessels  of  light  draft,  the  navigation  being 
very  difficult. 

The  river  Harga,  the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Selimdja, 
is  the  largest  tributary  of  Selimdja;  the  length  of  river  Harga 
is  72  miles;  average  fall  0.006;  the  width  of  the  valley  of  the 
river  Harga  is  varying,  from  100  feet,  at  the  river  head,  to  more 
than  one  mile. 

Description — The  Selimdja  gold  bearing  system  covers  a 

23 


group   of  mines   situated   along   the   tributaries   of   the   river 
Selimdja. 

The  characteristic  of  the  system  is  the  scattering  state  of 
the  mining  groups;  thus  the  distance  between  the  mines  situated 
along  the  tributaries  up-the-river  Selimdja  and  the  group  of 
mines  situated  down-the-river  Selimdja  is  more  than  270  miles. 

Of  the  groups  of  mines  mentioned  above  a  description  will 
be  given  only  of  those  of  interest  and  worthy  of  special  atten- 
tion. 

1.     The  District  of  Harga. 

In  the  district  of  Harga  are  at  work  the  mines  Zlato- 
ustovsk  and  Shedrinsk.  The  Zlatoustovsk  -mine  is  situated 
along  the  river  Harga,  at  its  left  side  and  between  the  mouths 
of  Dagandin  and  Albin. 

A  part  of  this  mine  was  worked  by  manual  labor,  the  thick- 
ness of  the  turf  having  been  from  one  to  five  feet.  The  thick- 
ness of  the  layer  Is  from  one  to  two  feet,  and  the  content  of 
gold  up  to  $15.  The  work  was  possible  only  with  the  water 
being  low,  for  the  height  of  the  area  above  the  level  of  the  river 
Harga  is  not  more  than  two  feet.  At  the  present  this  mine  and 
the  adjacent  mine,  Jadrinsk,  are  being  worked  by  three  dredg- 
ing machines.  The  area  of  the  Zlatoustovsk  is  675  acres. 

The  Jadrinsk  mine  is  situated  along  the  creek  Albin,  which 
discharges  itself  into  the  river  Harga;  the  area  of  the  mine  is 
15  acres. 

The  creek  Albin,  along  which  is  situated  the  Jadrinsk  mine, 
which  is  1.5  miles  long;  the  width  of  the  stream  within  the  claim 
is  nearly  nine  feet.  The  average  deviation  of  the  length  is  about 
0.03  feet;  the  width  of  the  valley  is  about  1,750  feet. 

The  valley  of  the  Albin  creek  and  the  river  Harga  in  this 
section  has  an  abundance  of  water  and  forms  a  basin.  The 
mine  is  situated  in  a  place  which  is  always  in  a  frozen  state. 
The  depth  of  the  freezing  of  the  river  Harga  is  about  5  feet, 
and  that  of  the  Albin  stream  about  2  feet.  They  freeze  at  the 
beginning  of  November  and  thaw  at  the  beginning  of  May. 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  mine  was  being  worked  by  man- 
ual labor;  the  thickness  of  the  turf  is  9  feet,  and  that  of  the 
layer— 7  feet,  and  the  average  content  of  gold— $1.90.  The 

24 


gold  is  distributed  evenly;  the  fineness  is  895 — 898;  the  gold  is 
small-grained. 

As  already  mentioned  above,  at  present  the  Jadrinsk  and 
the  neighboring  mines  are  worked  by  three  dredges.  All  three 
dredges  are  of  5  Ib.  capacity,  of  the  system  Verf-Conrad,  the 
daily  production  of  each  dredge  being  1/270  cubic  yards. 

The  places  for  dredge-work  are  still  very  large  and  thick, 
the  average  content  of  gold  being  $0.38  per  ton.  The  average 
number  of  working  days  per  year  is  180. 

In  the  region  of  Harga,  of  interest  is  the  mine  Olginsk  along 
the  river  Elge  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream  Afanasieffsk.  On 
the  right  slope  of  the  valley  there  is  a  "bench"  gold  mine. 

2.  District  of  the  Big  and  Small  Naergen,  the  left  tributaries 
of  the  river  Selimdja. 

Of  the  mines  covered  by  this  system,  attention  should  be 
paid  to  the  mine  Maisky,  being  150  acres  in  area.  The  valley 
dowii-the-river  small  Naergen,  where  the  Maisky  mine  is  situ- 
ated, is  very  narrow,  the  width  of  the  valley  being  not  more 
than  900  feet;  the  surrounding  mountains  border  on  the  river 
valley  by  narrow  capes ;  the  channel  of  the  river  is  very  winding ; 
the  nature  of  the  gold-bearing  layer  is  varying  and  the  gold 
there  is  distributed  unevenly.  The  average  thickness  of  the 
turf  is  about  5  feet;  of  the  river  bed,  5^  feet;  and  of  the  layers 
up  to  5  feet.  The  average  gold  content,  $1.20.  The  layer  con- 
sists of  thick,  heavy  and  dark-gray  lime,  as  a  result  of  the 
destruction  of  the  formerly  common  schists;  the  gold  is  small- 
grained,  flat  and  smooth. 

3.  The  Region  of  Semertak,  the  Right  Tributary  of  Selimdja. 

Manual  labor  has  been  instrumental  in  the  partial  exhaus- 
tion of  the  gold-bearing  area  which  is  situated  along  the  lower 
part  of  the  river  Semertak,  viz.  the  claim  of  the  mine 
Blagoveshchensk,  belonging  to  the  Ust-Semertaksk  Co.  Now  a 
dredging  machine  is  being  brought  into  employ  for  the  extraction 
of  the  remainder  of  the  gold;  the  capacity  of  the  scoops  of  the 
dredge  is  2%  cubic  feet;  the  daily  production,  760-900  cubic 
yards;  the  thickness  of  a  layer  is  2  feet;  the  thickness  of  turf, 

25 


up  to  10  feet;  the  average  gold  content  is  about  $2.25  to  one 
ton  of  sand,  or  $0.33  to  one  ton  of  sand  aud  turf. 

In  this  region  the  river  Selimdja  is  also  auriferous  and  con- 
tains from  $0.15  to  $0.27  gold  to  1  ton  of  earth,  which  renders 
it  possible  to  exploit  it  to  greater  advantage  by  using  a  dredging 
machine,  with  a  scoop  capacity  of  18  cubic  feet.  It  would  cer- 
tainly be  a  large  and  profitable  business  if  use  of  these  possi- 
bilities was  made. 

4.  The  Region  Nekly. 

A  whole  number  of  mines  worked  by  the  Nijne-Selimdjinsk 
Co.  is  situated  in  the  basin  of  the  middle  part  of  the  river  Nekly 
— which  is  a  relatively  small  right  tributary  of  the  river  Selimdja 
— and  along  the  streams  Khrabry  and  Utesny,  discharging  into 
Selimdja.  Manual  labor  has  been  instrumental  in  a  partial 
extraction  of  gold,  but  there  still  remain  a  number  of  areas 
which  are  not  suitable  for  manual  labor  and  which  'must  be 
worked  by  mechanical  methods. 

Along  the  river  Nekly  and  the  stream  Vesely,  which  dis- 
charges on  the  left  into  the  Nekly,  are  situated  two  main  mines: 
1)  Stretensk  along  the  river  Nekly,  and  2)  Vesely,  along  the 
stream  Vesely.  Both  mines  are  situated  in  a  plain  covered  by 
a  marsh.  In  the  Stretensk  mine  the  thickness  of  turf  is  varying 
from  2  to  3.5  feet;  the  thickness  of  the  layer,  4-6  feet;  the 
content  of  gold  in  the  remaining  areas,  $0.45-$0.60  to  one  ton 
of  sand;  the  gold  is  small,  round  grained. 

In  the  mine  Vesely  the  gold  is  large-grained,  porous,  with 
quartz;  the  turf  is  here  about  2  feet.  The  turfs  consist  of  a 
vegetable  layer  and  clay  of  bright  colors.  There  is  a  likelihood 
that  there  is  a  gold-containing  layer  underneath,  while  for 
washing  the  whole  portion  of  land  (2-11  feet),  immediately 
under  the  vegetable  surface  and  up  to  the  clay  which  is  not 
gold-containing,  is  taken.  The  method  of  washing  of  such  a 
layer  in  barrels  Would  not  be  practical,  as  a  great  amount  of 
gold  would  be  lost;  the  waste  could  be  washed  over  again  to 
good  advantage. 

Along  the  stream  Khrabry,  which  discharges  itself  on  the 
right  side  into  the  river  Selimdja,  is  situated  the  mine  Dagmara. 

26 


The  thickness  of  the  layer  is  up  to  4  feet,  and  the  thickness  of 
the  turf  to  7  feet.  The  gold  is  not  large-grained.  It  is  partly 
flat.  The  average  content  of  gold  is  $1.50  per  ton  of  sand. 

The  Niman  District. 
General  Information 

All  the  mines  of  the  so-called  Niman  system  are  situated 
within  the  boundaries  of  small  area,  viz.  the  area  bound  by 
the  river  Niman,  its  tributary  river  Olga,  and  the  latter's  tribu- 
tary river  Samar.  The  area  has  a  considerable  absolute  height. 
The  lowest  point  of  the  area,  viz.,  the  river  Niman,  is  2,625 
feet  above  sea  level.  The  difference  of  the  longitude  of  this 
area  is  nearly  27  miles,  while  the  difference  in  the  latitude  is  not 
more  than  20  miles.  All  the  rivers  and  streams  as  well  as  Niman 
and  Olga,  the  main  rivers  of  this  territory,  have  a  very  abrupt 
fall;  for  instance,  the  fall  of  Olga  from  the  Soffyisk  mine  up  to 
the  mouth  of  the  river  is  about  0.003.  The  fall  of  tributaries  is 
even  more  abrupt.  The  daily  outflow  of  water  of  these  typical 
mountain  rivers  varies  greatly.  A  little  river  hardly  noticeable 
in  summer  turns  into  a  stormy  water-duct  which  in  a  short 
space  of  time  causes  a  great  deal  of  harm.  The  water  rises 
very  rapidly,  but  subsides  equally  as  fast. 

Some  of  the  valleys  have  quite  clear  terraces.  Such  is  the 
valley  of  the  river  Olga,  especially  above  the  Soffysk  mine,  where 
two  terraces  can  very  distinctly  be  seen.  One  terrace  seen  at 
the  horizontal  junction  is  approximately  70  feet  above  the  river 
level,  and  the  other,  seen  at  the  horizontal  junction,  is  about 
140  feet  above  the  river  level. 

Ways  of  Communication 

The  main  means  of  communication  with  the  mines  in  sum- 
mer, as  well  as  in  winter,  is  the  river  Bureya. 

From  the  Soffyisk  mine,  the  center  of  the  Niman  system, 
a  road  extends  along  the  valley  of  the  river  up  to  the  winter 
camp,  near  the  discharge  of  the  latter  into  Niman. 

Prom  the  Niman  ford  the  road  makes  way  along  an  abrupt 
stream  and  creeps  over  the  valley  of  the  river  Umalta,  the 
summit  being  525  feet  high.  Further  on,  the  road  extends  along 

27 


the  slope  of  Umalta  as  far  as  the  place  of  the  discharge  of  the 
latter  into  the  river  Bureya.  The  distance  from  the  mines  to 
the  Ust-Umaltin  winter  camp  is  67  miles.  Notwithstanding 
rapids  and  cataracts,  the  navigation  from  Ust-Umaltin  Store- 
house up  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Bureya,  306  miles,  is  more 
or  less  safe.  Further  below  the  Ust-Umaltin  winter  camp  along 
a  distance  of  90  miles  up  to  Chekundin  Storehouse  it  is  navigable 
by  large  boats  (junks),  the  loading  capacity  of  which  is  about 
one  ton.  During  the  season  of  flood  or  at  the  time  of  a  flood, 
steamers  with  light  draft  are  able  to  reach  the  Ust-Niman  winter 
camp,  40  miles  off  the  Umaltin  Storehouse.  The  distance  of 
216  miles  from  Chekudin  Storehouse  up  to  the  mouth  or  Bureya 
is  navigable  by  light  boats  with  a  light  draft  at  any  time  of 
the  year. 

The  winter  road  has  the  same  direction. 

Description  of  Gold-bearing  Territories 

According  to  the  geological  data  compiled  by  the  geologist 
Yavorovsky,  who  made  investigations  in  the  Niman  system,  all, 
or  nearly  all,  sediments  of  the  rivers  of  this  territory  contain 
more  or  less  gold  and  may  be  regarded  as  "auriferous  sands" 
in  the  sense  of  this  term;  of  course,  it  will  depend  upon  the 
conditions  and  methods  of  work  whether  the  gold-bearing  sys- 
tems will  prove  productive  or  not.  It  must  be  admitted  that  the 
methods  employed  heretofore  in  the  gold  industry  of  the  Niman 
system  have  not  been  satisfactory.  The  enormous  richness  of 
the  deposits,  on  which  the  profits  in  the  seventies  of  the  past 
century  amounted  to  millions  (over  100%  for  some  years,  and 
61.23%  for  average  year  during  the  period  1886-1890),  made  it 
possible  to  consider  the  rough  methods  of  exploitation  as  suf- 
ficiently fit,  and  there  was,  accordingly,  no  inducement  for  the 
improvement  of  the  methods.  The  Niman  Company,  w;hich  at 
the  time  was  the  all-powerful  company  in  this  district,  has 
been  exerting  all  means  to  prevent  the  establishment,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  nines,  of  the  small  scale  gold  industry. 

As  a  result  of  this,  when  all  the  large  and  investigated 
deposits  with  high  gold  content  have  been  exhausted  by  the 
Niman  Company,  their  method  of  exploitation  proved  to  be  un- 
profitable for  the  exploitation  of  the  poorer  areas,  the  latter, 

28 


besides,  being  insufficiently  investigated.  In  view  of  this,  the 
Ninian  gold  industry  has  stopped,  little  by  little.  However,  there 
is  no  doubt  that  in  the  Niman  system  there  is  still  a  great 
number  of  areas  which  are  fully  fit  for  a  regular  exploitation, 
in  particular,  by  mechanical  means. 

Of  this  category  of  areas  special  attention  should  be  paid 
to  the  Sofyisk  and  loann-Krestitel  mines  situated  along  the 
river  Olga. 

Although  the  discovery  of  the  whole  of  the  Niman  system 
was  begun  with  the  discovery  of  the  Sofyisk  mine,  the  exploi- 
tation of  the  latter  in  the  years  immediately  following  has  been 
confined  to  the  exploitation  of  gold  of  the  rich  district  "Zolotoi 
Yar,"  and  also  relatively  small  underground  works  were  being 
carried  on  near  the  mouth  of  the  streams  Kanaka  and  Sofyisk; 
the  exploitation  of  all  other  deposits  of  the  district  was,  under 
the  existing  conditions  and  methods  of  work,  considered  by  no 
no  means  possible;  therefore  in  these  regions  of  the  gold  area 
there  is  a  large  quantity  of  gold  which  can  be  extracted  to 
great  advantage  if  more  advanced  methods  of  exploitation  are 
employed. 

The  upper  part  of  the  Sofyisk  mine,  between  the  mouths 
of  the  rivers  Agda  and  Kanaka,  has  been  investigated  in  more 
detail;  the  results  of  the  investigation  are  shown,  in  approximate 
figures,  in  the  following  table: 


Thickness 

To  Cubic  Yd 

of  gold  Ibs. 

«M 

o 

Districts 

MH 

4J 

•*| 

1 

J 

J 

•rt 

c    I 

MH 
U 

H 

3 

<  in 

MH 

fe 

1 

!i 

11 

Part  of  the 

i 

Sofyisk  Mine 

above  Niko- 

laevsk  2569 

feet 

24 

1,75 

1,036,742 

24,921,808 

1,814,299 

0.025 

0.0011 

1,048 

Next  to  the 

north  of 

Sofyisk  2975 

feet 

22 

1,5 

1,021,307 

22,468,754 

1,531,960 

0.016 

0.001 

883 

The  balance 

of  2450  feet 

adjacent  to 

the  Timofey 

Mine 

35 

1,4 

1,516,746 

53,086,110 

2,123,444 

0.026 

0.001 

1,998 

Total 

3,929 

29 


The  distance  of  one,  mile  of  the  lower  part  of  the  Sofyisk 
mine  between  the  mouth  of  Kanaka  and  the  stream  Sofyisk  has 
been  investigated  but  very  little. 

On  going  over  the  foregoing  table,  sight  must  not  be  lost 
of  the  fact  that  the  thicknesses  of  the  turf  and  the  layer,  as  is 
shown  above,  cannot  be  considered  to  be  quite  exact.  In  a 
great  number  of  instances,  the  quantity  of  the  layer  proves  to 
be  much  more,  but  it  is  a  little  poorer  than  that  shown  in  the 
table,  for  the  bottom  layers  of  turf  often  contain  $0.30-$0.45 
to  one  ton,  and  it  is  but  just  that  they  should  be  considered 
gold-bearing  layers  although  the  latter  is  thus  rendered  poorer, 
the  average  content  of  turf  and  layer  of  gold,  however,  being 
somewhat  increased. 

As  mentioned  above,  a  smal  area  of  the  Sofyisk  mine  had 
been  worked  out  and  nearly  6,480  Ibs.  of  gold  had  been  extract- 
ed, the  average  content  of  gold  being  $0.61  to  a  ton.  Alike,  a 
small  portion  of  the  area  of  the  loann-Krestitel  mine  had  been 
worked  out,  the  average  content  of  gold  being  $5.25  to  a  ton. 

As  compared  with  this  figure,  the  content  of  gold  of  the 
Sofyisk  mine,  $2.05,  as  is  shown  in  the  table  above,  is,  of  course, 
small,  and  in  order  to  make  the  exploitation  of  this  place  profit- 
able new  and  cheaper  methods  of  exploitation  should  be  intro- 
duced. One  of  these  methods  is  the  washing  of  the  turf,  there 
being  a  lot  of  water  in  the  river  Olga.  An  experiment  in  this 
direction  was  made,  and,  at  the  beginning,  it  proved  to  be  very 
successful,  but  later  on  the  adminstration  of  the  mine  changed, 
and  resulted  in  not  applying  this  method  to  the  fullest  extent. 

As  regards  the  loann-Krestitel  mine,  which  is  situated  be- 
yond the  Sofyisk  mine,  it  has  not  been  investigated  in  full,  and 
its  lower  part  has  not  been  investigated  at  all. 

In  all,  these  two  territories  may  be  considered  as  containing 
7,200  Ibs.  of  gold,  the  extraction  of  which  may  prove  profitable 
with  methods  of  exploitation  which  are  more  regular  and 
advanced.  With  such  advanced  methods  of  exploitation  the 
whole  number  of  smaller  areas  along  the  river  Olga  and  Toen- 
Elga  could  be  worked  to  great  advantage. 


30 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  GOLD   MINING   INDUSTRY   IN   THE   BAIKAL   REGION 

I. 

THE  ZABAIKAL  DISTRICT 
Brief  Historical  and  Statistical  Data. 

The  gold  mining  industry  in  the  Baikal  Province  had  come 
into  existence  in  1832,  but  it  was  only  in  the  beginning  of  the 
forties  of  the  past  century,  when  rich  mines  had  been  discov- 
ered, that  the  gold  mining  industry  had  gained  importance  from 
the  point  of  view  of  gold  industry. 

These  rich  mines  are:  Karyisk,  Shachtalin,  Kazakov,  Tainin* 
etc.  Following  the  discovery  of  these  mines  there  had  been  a 
gradual  development  due  first,  to  the  discovery  of  new  mines, 
secondly  to  a  more  intensive  exploitation  of  the  mines  chiefly 
by  methods  of  gang  work,  and  thirdly  to  the  granting  of  permis- 
sion for  the  establishment  of  private  ownership  of  gold  mines 
in  the  Western  part  of  the  Nerchinsk  District.  Thus  in  1914  the 
output  of  gold  in  the  Transbaikal  Province  reached  about  14,40,0 
Ibs.  This  was  the  quantity  which  had  been  officially  registered, 
but  it  must  be  taken  into  consideration  that  a  great  deal  of  gold 
has  often  been  hidden  from  registration,  mainly  because  the 
gold  owners  wished  to  avoid  payment  of  a  5%  tax  in  kind  to 
the  Department  of  Imperial  Crown  Lands,  which  had  been  the 
chief  landowner  in  the  Baikal  region.  The  real  figure  of  the 
output  of  gold  in  this  region  in  the  years  immediately  previous 
to  the  war  must  therefore  be  taken  to  be  nearly  36,000  Ibs. 

The  Department  of  Imperial  Crown  Lands  was  in  the  lead, 
as  far  as  the  exploitation  of  gold  in  the  Baikal  region  is  con- 
cerned. The  works  carried  on  by  private  gold-mine  owners 
were,  on  the  whole,  very  little,  the  output  being  somewhat  in 

31 


the  neighborhood  of  several  poods  and  sometimes  pounds. 
The  department  of  Imperial  Crown  Lands,  as  well  as 
private  gold-mine  owners,  have  been  applying  primitive 
methods  of  exploitation;  in  earth- works  which  were  done  at  the 
mines  manual  labor  only  had  been  used.  This  is  true,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  dredging-machine  installed  by  Mr.  Novo- 
meisky,  a  private  gold-mine  owner,  in  the  river  Zepikan  (in 
the  Bargusin  marshy  forests), — the  dredging  machine  working 
quite  satisfactorily — and  an  excavator  which  is  used  at  the 
mine  Shuvikh  along  the  river  Kruchina.  It  is  evident  that  with 
the  employment  of  manual  labor  only,  it  proved  advantageous 
to  exploit  solely  the  richer  areas,  Where  the  contents  were  not 
less  than  $0.18  in  a  ton  of  sand  and  turf  (in  the  case  01  super- 
terraneous  works),  and  not  less  than  $1.50  per  ton  of  sand 
with  the  gold-containing  layer  not  less  than  4  feet  (in  the  case 
of  subterraneous  works).  All  areas,  where  the  gold  contents 
were  less  than  the  figures  just  mentioned,  were  being  considered 
disadvantageous  for  the  industry,  and  no  attention  was  paid  to 
them,  while  with  the  application  of  mechanical  metnoas  of 
exploitation,  the  neglected  areas  could  be  worked  with  great 
advantage. 

New  gold-bearing  deposits  were  being  searched  for  and 
investigated  into  just  as  much  as  the  exploitation  of  gold-bearing 
areas  was  being  carried  on. 

On  reviewing  the  map  showing  the  resources  of  gold  at 
mines  formerly  belonging  to  the  Department  of  Imperial 
Crown  Lands,  it  is  evident  that  the  annual  gold  output  has 
•been  about  7,200  Ibs.,  while  the  resources  of  gold  in  reserve 
had  been  remaining  at  all  times  about  1,000-15,000  Ibs.  This 
is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  Department  of  Imperial  Crown 
Lands  did  not  make  strenuous  efforts  towards  new  discoveries, 
and  work  for  the  purpose  of  new  discoveries  was  being  carried 
on  to  the  extent  of  filling  the  requirements  only,  so  as  not  to 
face  a  cessation  of  work.  In  view  of  this,  the  greater  part  of 
the  Nerchinsk  District  has  not  been  investigated  at  all,  not  to 
speak  of  examining  the  discoveries.  In  spite  of  this,  the  non- 
investigated  regions  of  the  Nerchinsk  District  are  of  a  very  great 
importance  as  far  as  the  posibility  of  new  discoveries  of  gold 
is  concerned.  These  will  be  dealt  with  later  on.  The  method 
of  investigation,  in  itself,  has  been  very  primitive;  the  method 

32 


of  investigation,  by  means  of  drills,  has  been  brought  into  appli- 
cation just  before  the  war.  Almost  sole  attention  at  the  inves- 
tigation and  examination  works  was  being  paid  to  the  discovery 
of  new  or  channel  auriferous  sands  (deposits),  outside  of  which 
nothing  had  been  exploited;  the  old,  or  very  deep  deposits 
have  been  worked  on  very  few  occasions;  to  the  latter  category 
belong  the  Kazakovsky  and  Novotroizky,  old  deposits  which 
are  at  present  worked. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  in  the  event  of  investigations  of 
new  deposits,  made  in  a  proper  manner,  a  great  number  of 
old  deposits  are  likely  to  be  brought  to  light. 

As  regards  ore  deposits  of  gold,  the  exploitation  of  these  in 
the  Baikal  region  has  not  been  made  at  all — although  there  is 
a  great  number  of  ore  deposits  of  gold  in  the  Baikal  region. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  REGIONS  IN  WHICH  THE  GOLD-MINING 
INDUSTRY  COULD  BE   DEVELOPED  PROFITABLY 

1.  Undin  Region. 

The  Undin  region  consists  of  two  main  gold  centers: 
Kazakovsk  and  Novotroitzk.  They  are  situated  in  the  South- 
eastern part  of  the  Baikal  region,  along  the  river  Unda,  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  river  Onon — the  Kazakovsk  deposit  being  20  miles 
off  the  station  "Biankino,"  of  the  Transbaikal  Railway,  and  the 
Novotroitzk  deposits  being  30  miles  off  the  station  "Priiskovaia" 
of  the  Transbaikal  Railway.  These  railway  stations  are  con- 
nected with  the  mines  by  good  highways. 

The  mines  are  situated  in  a  wide  and  open  valley  of  the 
river  Unda  which  is  very  fertile  and  thickly  inhabited — mainly 
by  cossaks  engaged  in  agricultural  work.  A  road  of  17  miles 
along  a  good  and  even  plain  connects  the  Novotroitzk  and 
Kazakovsk  mines. 

Kazakovsk    Mines 

The  region  of  Kazakovsk  gold  mines  is  contained  between 
the  stations  "Undinskaya  Sloboda"  and  Kolobovsk  village,  along 
the  right  tributaries  of  the  river  Unda. 

Almost  all  the  mines  are  situated  in  a  direction-  perpen- 
dicular to  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda — the  methods  of  the  mine* 

33 


discharging  into  the  river  Unda  so  that  the  valley  of  the  latter 
is  in  this  place  also  gold-bearing,  which  has  been  proved  by 
investigations.  Mention  should  be  made  here  of  two  kinds  of 
gold  sands:  1)  Channel  auriferous  sands,  not  deep,  as,  for  in- 
stance, those  along  Kazakovka  or  Kluchevaya;  and  2)  the 
so-called  "bench"  auriferous  sands,  lying  70-140  feet  deep  from 
the  surface. 

Those  sands  which  had  been  investigated  in  full  have 
already  been  worked  out;  of  the  "bench"  sands  a  part  only  had 
been  worked  out,  the  average  content  of  gold  varying  from 
$1.90-$0.03  to  a  ton  of  sand;  the  thickness  of  the  layer  taken 
being  from  8  to  11  feet.  According  to  official  data,  taken  in  1919, 
the  resources  of  gold  remaining  in  the  untouched  Kazakovsk 
"bench"  auriferous  sand  was  figured  to  be  748  Ibs.  After  1919 
no  exploitation  was  made.  In  reality,  the  resources  of  gold, 
according  to  data  of  the  experience  of  former  years,  should  be 
considered  larger  and  it  may  be  definitely  held  that  the  quantity 
of  gold  in  the  untouched  parts  of  the  Kazakovsk  mine  is  about 
1,120  Ibs. 

Besides,  up  to  the  present  moment,  there  has  remained 
uninvestigated  a  part  of  the  sand  situated  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
village  Malaya  Kazakovka  along  a  distance  of  about  a  half  mile. 
It  surely  contains  gold  fit  for  the  industry,  as  on  both  sides  of 
the  village  there  is  being  exploited  the  same  mine,  with  good 
content  of  gold. 

The  resources  of  gold  in  the  part  of  the  mine  situated 
beyond  the  village  Malaya  Kazakovka,  and  within  its  suburbs 
are  held  to  be  1791  Ibs. 

In  all,  the  resources  of  gold  along  the  Kazakovsk  hollow 
should  be  held  to  be  2907  Ibs.,  as  is  seen  from  the  enclosed  table. 

The  resources  of  gold  are  not  confined  to  the  above  figures. 
The  main  part  of  the  Yushkovsk  mine  had  not  been  worked  out. 
The  mine  "Sukhoy,"  along  the  Kolobovsk,  contains,  in  its 
investigated  part  only,  more  than  360  Ibs.  of  gold. 

A  mine  along  the  Grasnukhinsk  "bench,"  near  the  village 
Lieskovo,  is  known  to  contain  gold,  but  investigations  have  not 
been  completed  yet. 

Besides  the  places  mentioned  above,  there  are  a  number  of 
other  sands  in  the  region  of  the  Kazakovsk  mines,  where  gold 

34 


has  been  located.     As  they  have  been  very  little  investigated, 
it  is  premature  to  speak  about  the  resources  of  gold  there. 

As  regards  the  equipment  of  the  Kazakovsk  mine,  it  had 
been  well  equipped  from  the  technical  point  of  view.  There  is 
a  central  electric  station  installed  in  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kazakovka.  The  electric  current 
supplied  by  a  3  H.  P.  generator  of  190  kilowatts. 

Electric  current  was  used  for:  1)  The  delivery  of  water 
from  the  river  Unda  to  the  Kazakovskaya  "bench"  for  the  wash- 
ing of  sands;  2)  for  the  pumping  of  water  out  of  working 
mines;  3)  for  the  mechanical  lifting  of  the  sands;  4)  for  light- 
ing of  the  mines  and  all  other  buildings;  5)  for  the  dredging 
machine,  etc.,  etc. 

The  following  is  the  machinery  installed  at  the  electric 
station: 

1 — "Lantze"  locomotive,  with  tandem-compound,  230  H.  P. 

2 — "Erlikon"  works  generator. 

3 — "Otto  Schwabe"  centrifugal  pump,  connected  with  a 
160  H.  P.  motor. 

4 — A  number  of  centrifugal  pumps,  cranes,  and  other 
auxiliary  apparatus. 

Novotroitzk  Mine 

As  was  already  mentioned  above,  the  Novotroitzk  mine  is 
situated  in  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda,  20  miles  beyond  the 
Kazakovsk  mines.  Work  is  being  carried  on  along  a  small  part 
of  the  territory,  along  a  distance  of  the  valley  of  3  miles  up  to 
the  Novotroitzk  Stanitza  (cossak  village) .  There  are  two  kinds 
of  mines:  1)  The  channel  mine  bounded  by  the  banks  of  the 
river  Unda,  not  deep  under  the  surface;  2)  the  terrace  and 
"bench"  mines,  which  are  deep,  being  35-60  feet  under  the 
surface. 

These  two  mines  have  been  worked ;  partly,  by  private  own- 
ers, and  partly  by  gangs  of  workmen. 

The  Novotroitzk  mines  have  often  proven  remarkable  for 
their  rich  content  of  gold.  The  content  of  gold  in  the  sands 
has,  after  washing,  varied  from  $0.60  to  $2.25  per  ton  of  ore; 
sometimes  there  was  as  much  as  $4.50-$6.00,  with  the  thickness 
of  the  gold-containing  layer  from  5-9  feet. 

In  most  cases,  the  conditions  of  exploitation  of  these  sands 
are  easy. 

35 


The  area  of  soil  permanently  frozen  is  not  considerable,  so 
that  it  is  not  a  matter  of  great  importance  in  super-terraneous 
works  and  cannot  cause  a  decrease  in  the  productiveness  of  the 
works,  nor  it  cannot  delay  the  washing  of  sands  in  the  early 
spring  or  late  autumn. 

So  far  the  exploitation  of  gold  has  been  carried  on  by 
manual  labor;  no  improvements  have  been  introduced;  the 
character  of  the  mine  is  such  as  would  allow  a  substitution  of 
mechanical  works  for  manual  labor.  Only  mechanical  methods 
which  would  decrease  to  a  minimum  the  complicated  gold-min- 
ing business  and  also  decrease  the  number  of  workers,  might 
allow  the  exploitation  to  great  advantage  not  only  of  the 
principal  mine,  but  also  of  the  poorer  parts  of  the  mine  as  well. 
With  regard  to  the  resources  of  gold  at  the  Novotroitzk  mines, 
there  are  official  figures  of  gold  only  in  those  areas  'which  have 
been  investigated  in  great  detail.  In  1919,  after  which  no 
regular  work  was  done,  the  quantity  of  gold  in  the  areas  of  the 
Nikitinsk  and  Undinsk  deposits  was  held  to  be  867  Ibs. 

Besides,  in  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda,  there  is  situated 
a  mine  which  had  not  yet  been  touched  by  a  dredging  machine. 
According  to  official  data,  the  quantity  of  gold  in  that  mine  is 
held  to  be  2,087  Ibs. 

In  reality,  the  said  areas  on  the  gross  washing  will  prove 
considerably  richer.  Prom  the  practice  of  former  years,  the 
quantity  of  gold  derived  had  always  been  nearly  two  times  as 
much  as  the  data  derived  from  investigations,  and  the  areas 
themselves  turned  out  to  be  much  larger  than  shown  on  the 
maps  drawn  by  the  investigators. 

The  variance  between  the  data  of  the  investigators  and  the 
gross  washing  at  the  mines  of  the  Department  of  the  Imperial 
Crown  Lands  is  accountable  for  by  a  number  of  causes;  the 
main  causes  being:  1)  The  unfaithful  managers  of  the  mines 
showed  the  gold  in  the  Investigation  Ledgers  in  lesser  quantities 
purposely,  so  that  on  washing  the  gold,  a  part  of  it  could  be 
retained  by  them;  2)  some  managers,  who  were  more  honest 
than  those  mentioned,  were  making  wrong  entries,  because  they 
were  planning  to  get  a  premium  for  the  gold  washed  above  the 
rate. 

In  view  of  the  above,  the  actual  resources  of  gold  in  the 
Nikitinsk  and  Udinsk  sands  of  the  areas  which  had  been  inves- 

35 


tigated  into,  in  detail,  should  be  taken  to  be  1,530  Ibs.,  corres- 
ponding to  the  data  of  gross  washing  of  former  years;  while 
the  resources  -  of  gold  in  the  place  not  touched  by  the  dredging 
machine  should  be  taken  to  be  3,750  Ibs.,  as  is  shown  in  the 
enclosed  table. 

Thus,  the  resources  of  gold,  in  the  areas  which  had  been 
investigated  in  detail,  should  be  held  to  total  5,280  Ibs. 

The  resources  of  gold  at  the  Novotroitzk  mines  do  not 
constitute  the  total  gold  reserve;  the  data  of  investigations  being 
very  meagre,  we  are  taking,  for  the  sake  of  precaution,  only  the 
resources  of  gold  which  have  been  listed.  For  instance,  there 
is  along  a  slope  a  large  area  containing  gold  which  had  not 
been  exhausted;  then,  a  rich  sand  area,  though  deep,  is  situated 
along  a  distance  from  the  Nikitinsk  cut,  apparently  under  the 
•main  road;  the  presence  of  a  large  flow  of  water  has  delayed 
the  subterraneous  works;  finally,  there  is  a  series  of  small  and 
single  untouched  mines  scattered  all  along  the  mining  area 
which  contains  much  gold.  Summing  up  the  above,  the  con- 
clusion may  be  drawn,  that  the  figures  of  the  reserve  of  gold 
are  to  be  increased  by  not  less  than  3,600  Ibs.  To  this  must 
be  added  that  the  absence  of  detailed  investigations  in  areas 
opposite  and  beyond  the  Novotroitzk  "stanitza"  do  not  allow  us 
to  arrive  at  anything  regarding  the  gold  resources  in  the  area 
along  the  river  Unda,  beyond  investigated  places,  but,  of  course, 
no  statement  can  be  made  that  a  large  extension  of  the  pro- 
ductive area  is  impossible.  A  brief  investigation  and  the  fact 
that  illegal  work  was  done  in  two  places  support  the  supposition 
that  there  are  new  abundant  gold-bearing  areas  in  the  valley 
of  the  river  Unda. 

In  connection  with  the  resources  of  gold,  it  is  necessary  to 
mention  the  dredging  operations,  and  the  decison  of  the  De- 
partment of  Imperial  Crown  Lands,  in  1916,  to  install  a  dredge 
in  the  Novotroitzk  mine.  The  dredging  machine  was  ordered 
from  the  American  firm  "Bucyrus,"  and,  according  to  agreement, 
the  machine  was  to  be  ready  in  January  of  1918,  and  was  to 
be  delivered  to  the  mines  in  the  summer  of  1918.  A  partial  pay- 
ment for  the  dredging  machine  had  been  made  in  due  time; 
according  to  information  received,  the  machine  was  ready  in 
time  stipulated,  and  was  forwarded  to  Seattle  for  loading  aboard 
a  ship.  However,  due  to  the  revolution  in  October,  1917,  and 

37 


the  breaking  off  of  diplomatic  relations  with  America,   ship- 
ment was  postponed  for  an  indefinite  period. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  dredging  operations  could  be  devel- 
oped to  a  large  extent,  there  being  data  regarding  the  existence 
in  the  Undinsk  valley,  from  Kazakovsk  mines  to  the  Novotroitzk 
•mines,  of  an  auriferous  mine  which  is  20  miles  long;  it  is  pos- 
sible that  the  mine  does  not  contain  gold  all  along,  but  it  is 
beyond  doubt  that  separate  parts  of  the  mine  contain  industrial 
gold.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  a  number  of  favorable 
conditions  which  render  possible  the  successful  application  of 
dredging  machines  in  the  gold  industry. 

Resources  of  Gold 

In  the  Kazakovsk  gold  mine  in  1919,  calculated  on  the  basis 
of  the  gross  production  of  gold  in  previous  years: 


Districts 

| 

.S  **" 
$  & 

"^      OT 

ft 

III 

Cv  t>-4 

jl| 

Approximate 
Quantity  of 
gold  IBs. 

Kazakovsk-Elan 

Area  A 

295,470 

8.4 

2,481,948 

$1.90 

848 

"      E 
Total 

93,443 

8.4 

784,921 

1.90 

268 

3,266,869 

1,116 

Area  D 

41,895 

7.7 

322,592 

1.50 

92 

"      a 
Total 

614,950 

7.7 

4,625,115 

2.00 

1,699 

4,947,707 

1,791 

Grand  Total 

8,214,576 

2,907 

38 


Resources  of  Gold 


In  the  Novotroitzk  gold  mines  in  1919,  calculated  on  the 
basis  of  the  gross  production  of  gold  in  previous  years: 


8 

<L> 

| 

w 

MH 

0 

Ojg    , 

Districts 

M  o> 

$  a 

|l. 

||| 

•43  ••"  <u 

H* 

|p 

<  S1 

H*o 

H^.S 

aid 

3^1 

aH 

I.—  Nikitinsk 

Areal 

272,930 

44.1 

5.25 

1,432,711 

$0.90 

244 

"    2 

304,192 

40.6 

5.71 

1,767,479 

1.00 

327 

"    3 

101,038 

15.61 

5.71 

586,873 

1.00 

110 

Total 

3,787,063 

681 

II.—  Nizhne- 

Udinsk 

(Junction  No.  5) 

Area  a 

72,840 

31.36 

11.27 

195,510 

1.80 

6'5 

"    b 

59,290 

30.59 

4.41 

262,738 

1.80 

87 

(Junction  No.  3) 

Areac 

400,575 

17.15 

3.5 

1,401,841 

l.QQ 

260 

"    d 

16,660 

17.15 

3.5 

58,310 

1.00 

11 

41    c 

89,425 

17.15 

3.5 

313,159 

1.00 

58 

"    f 

37,926 

17.15 

3.5 

133,741 

1.00 

25 

"    S 

51,076 

17.15 

3.5 

175,616 

1.00 

33 

"    h 

216,825 

19.53 

3.5 

758,716 

1.00 

141 

"     i 

405,671 

12.11 

3.5 

937,076 

1.00 

173 

Total 

4,276',707 

853 

Grand  Total 

8,063,770 

1,534 

III.—  On  river 

Unda 

Area  a 

7,840,000 

14. 

35. 

1,372,000,000 

3,750 

2.  The  Karyisk  Group  of  Gold  Mines. 

The  group  of  Karyisk  gold  mines  is  situated  along  the  rivers 
Kara,  Lujanka,  Kularka,  and  Bagal,  which  discharge  themselves, 
from  the  right  side,  into  Shilka. 

The  sands  along  Kara  have*  been  especially  rich.  The 
greater  part  of  the  sands  of  this  region  have  been  exhausted; 
there  remains  un-exhausted  the  sand  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
river  Kara,  where  gold  was  not  known  of  for  a  long  time  on, 
account  of  the  difficulty  in  making  cuts  in  the  thick  sands;  then 
there  remain  unexhausted  two  other  sands:  1)  That  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  river  Kularka,  and  2)  that  in  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  Kara. 

Nijne  Karyisk,  or  the  So-called  Nije-Grebnia  Mine. 
In  the  lower  Karyisk  sand,  "Nije-Grebnia,"  the  resources  of 

39 


gold,  according  to  the  data  of  the  Nerchinsk  District,  total  1,879 
Ibs.  But  this  was  compiled  a  long  time  ago,  and  the  figures 
were  based  upon  the  consideration  that  the  exploitation  of  the 
sand  would  be  done  by  manual  labor.  However,  after  a  detailed 
investigation,  it  became  clear  that  the  quantity  of  gold  in  the 
sand  must  be  taken  to  be  not  less  than  4,284  Ibs.,  in  the  event 
of  the  application  of  mechanical  -methods. 

The  use  of  mechanical  devices,  most  likely  of  dredging 
machines,  is  required  in  order  to  insure  a  steady  and  regular 
exploitation  of  the  deposits  and  the  extraction  of  the  total  of 
the  resources  of  gold  therein.  Some  regions  of  the  area  will 
require  a  more  detailed  investigation;  there  is  a  likelihood  that 
the  sand  extends  to  the  Karyisk  village  and  reaches  the  river 
Shilka.  In  the  latter  case,  the  resources  of  gold  would  be 
increased  even  more. 

"Nijne-Kularskaya"  Mine 

The  "Nijne-Kularskaya"  gold-containing  area,  according  to 
the  data  of  the  Nerchinsk  district,  contains  gold  totalling  927 
Ibs.  Only  2  miles  of  the  area  have  been  investigated,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  that  the  said  Kularsk  mine  will  largely  extend  down 
along  the  valley.  It  is  only  necessary  to  make  detailed  investi- 
gation which  would  definitely  show  an  increase,  as  compared 
with  data  compiled  of  the  resources  of  gold  in  this  deposit. 

Gorbichan-Jeltugin  District  of  Gold  Mines 

This  district  consists  of  the  basins  of  the  river  Gorbitsa 
and  Jeltuga,  which  discharge  themselves  into  the  river  Shilka, 
the  river  heads  of  the  riverts  Gorbitsa  and  Jeltuga  being  at  the 
Xenievsk  mountain.  This  district  is  remarkable  for  great  re- 
sources of  gold  and  high  gold-content  of  the  sands.  The  richer 
regions  of  the  District  which  were  fit  for  manual  labor  have 
been  exhausted;  there  still  remain  large  gold-containing  regions 
which  are  not  fit  for  manual  labor,  but  fully  fit  for  mechanical 
exploitation.  Of  these  are:  the  regions  along  the  middle  and 
lower  part  of  the  river  Jeltuga,  the  regions  along  the  river 
Davenda  and  the  river  Gorbitsa.  There  is  no  possibility  of 
giving  the  exact  figure  of  the  resources  of  gold  in  these  regions 
referred  to  because  of  their  being  so  very  little  investigated. 

40 


Besides  the  investigated  regions  of  the  District,  the  eastern 
part  of  the  region  of  the  river  Burgusens'  basin  and  the  western 
region  along  the  left  tributaries  of  the  river  Chernaya,  the  river 
Itakenda  and  a  large  cavity  Uldugitch  are  expected  to  have 
large  gold-bearing  areas. 

It  must  be  remarked  that  the  very  large  quantity  of  the 
old  flint  stones  contain  even  until  the  present  time  considerable 
quantities  of  gold  which  may  be  extracted  profitably  by 
mechanical  methods. 

Amazar  District 

This  is  a  large  district  (over  18,000  square  miles) ,  covering 
the  whole  of  the  basin  of  the  river  Amazara  with  its  tributaries. 

In  the  whole  of  the  Transbaikal  Province,  this  district  is 
the  one  that  has  been  least  investigated.  This  is  explained  by 
the  fact  that  prior  to  the  construction  of  the  Amur  railway,  this 
marshy  forest  region  had  been  inaccessible.  The  construction 
of  the  Amur  railway  has  greatly  contributed  to  the  development 
of  this  district;  a  number  of  very  rich  gold-bearing  areas  have 
been  discovered;  viz.  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Amazar's  basin, 
along  the  small  Amazar  and  its  left  tributaries,  Amunna,  Kliu- 
chik,  Vasilievka  and  Amazarkan;  and  the  other  areas  along 
Amazar — Big  Mogoch,  etc. 

As  investigations  of  the  Amazar  District  are  being  made, 
new  gold-containing  areas  are  being  discovered;  in  this  con- 
nection, as  already  stated  above,  the  investigations  at  all  times 
were  conducted  primitively  and  on  a  small  scale. 

In  1916  there  was  discovered  a  rich  gold-bearing  area  in 
the  riverhead  of  the  river  Big  Mogoch  and  a  drawing  of  a  con- 
tinuous area,  an  area  which  contains  gold  throughout  its  entire 
length,  has  been  made.  This  area  contained  over  1,800  Ibs.  of 
gold.  The  subsequent  revolution  and  the  general  turmoil  have 
proved  an  obstacle  to  the  introduction  of  regular  works  there. 
At  present  the  richer  part  of  this  area  had  been  deprived  of 
gold  by  "illegal"  works  known  as  pillaging.  However,  the 
greater  part  of  the  area,  where  gold  content  is  $0.20-$0.30  per 
ton  of  sand  and  turf,  remains  untouched,  and  can  be  advan- 
tageously worked  by  proper  means,  more  especially,  by  hydraulic 
works 

Investigations  have  been  made  in  the  area  bordering  on 

41 


the  above  mentioned  gold-containing  area,  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  river  Big  Chichatky,  at  the  other  side  of  the  mountain  range. 
The  investigations  have  given  good  results,  and  it  was  intended 
to  make  detailed  investigations  but,  in  this  instance  also,  civil 
war  interfered. 

Further  to  the  east,  the  Amazar  district  remains  almost 
entirely  un-investigated,  with  the  exception  of  the  mine  Solone- 
chensk,  along  the  river  Solonechnaya,  the  right  tributary  of 
the  river  Big  Chichatky. 

Brief  investigations  which  were  undertaken  by  some  indivi- 
duals met  with  success  and  some  places  proved  to  contain  gold; 
however,  on  account  of  the  war  and  lack  of  labor  and,  sub- 
sequently due  to  internal  troubles,  in  no  place  could  the  investi- 
gations be  made  properly.  Special  attention  should  be  paid 
to  the  river  Djalindjak  and  Desa,  the  right  tributaries  of  the 
river  Big  Chichatky  and  the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Amazar. 

In  1918,  Mr.  Nerre,  an  Engineer,  had  applied  for  a  conces- 
sion in  this  district,  but  was  refused. 

The  auriferous  areas  mentioned  above  may  be  relied  upon 
to  contain  gold  in  large  quantities  and  as  fit  for  the  intro- 
duction of  production  on  a  large  scale.  As  regards  the  areas 
where  the  introductions  of  production  on  a  large  scale  is  pos- 
sible, in  particular,  mechanical  works,  mention  of  numerous 
places  could  be  made,  among  these  of  particular  interest  are  the 
gold-containing  areas  along  the  Black  Urium  (Cherni  Urium) 
and  the  river  Baldja. 

DEPOSITS  OF  GOLD  ORE 

Of  the  deposits  of  gold  ore;  in  the  Baikal  region,  special 
attention  should  be  paid  to  the  Darasun  deposit,  43  miles  to  the 
northwest  of  the  railway  station  Shilka,  of  the  Transbaikal  Rail- 
way. This  deposit  consists  of  a  whole  system  of  veins  inter- 
secting a  diorite  massive  soil.  There  had  been  discovered  6 
main  veins. 

The  average  thickness  of  veins  is  2  feet.  The  vein  repre- 
sents quartz  which  constains  sulphuric,  arsenic  and  copper  py- 
rite.  The  gold-content  of  the  ores  varies  greatly,  from  $1.50 
to  $140.00  in  one  ton  of  ore  gold;  the  average  gold-content  of 
the  ores,  according  to  experiments  of  Mr.  Andreev,  Engineer, 
was  $12.00  to  a  ton  of  ore. 

42 


"Visible  resources"  of  gold  cannot  be  shown  definitely,  for 
the  lease  holders  of  the  mine  have  often  been  doing  work  by 
very  unproductive  and  exhaustive  methods,  and  no  care  was 
taken  towards  preparing  regular  massive  lots. 

According  to  data  available,  the  probable  figure  of  the 
gold  reserve  of  this  deposit  should  be  estimated  at  18,000  Ibs. 

Of  other  ore-deposits  in  the  Transbaikal  Province,  special 
attention  should  be  paid  to:  1)  Ilyinsk;  2)  Kazakovsk,  and 
others. 

In  general,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  exploitation  of 
deposits  of  gold-ore  in  the  Baikal  region  is  still  in  its  infant 
stage. 

II. 

GOLD  BEARING  REGION  OF  THE  NERCHINSK  MINING 

DISTRICT 

1 — The  Amazar  Region  is  situated  in  the  basin  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  river  Amazar,  the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Amur. 
The  region  occupies  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  Transbaikal 
Province.  The  region  is  intersected  by  the  Amur  railway  along 
a  distance  of  35  miles.  It  consists  of  granites  and  gneisses, 
the  diorites  and  horneblende  gneisses  being  present  in  smaller 
quantities.  In  the  direction  from  south  to  north,  the  region  is 
intersected  by  an  elevated  soil  consisting  of  hard  ores,  where 
quartzites  and  very  hard  conglomerates  are  to  be  found.  Auri- 
ferous sand  has  been  seen  in  many  places.  The  main  auriferous 
groups  are:  1)  Upper- Amazar  group,  lying  along  the  small 
Amazar  and  its  tributary  Ukonnik,  and  along  the  large  Amazar 
and  its  left  tributaries  Amunnaya,  Kliuchik,  Vassiliefka  and 
Amazarkan;  2)  Kadachin;  3)  Vilukchin,  situated  in  the  basin 
of  Big  Hogochi;  4)  Horogochin  group;  5)  Dodor  group;  6) 
Djelindin  group;  7)  Shurgin  group,  situated  in  the  middle  part 
of  the  river  Amazar.  Along  the  Big  Chichatka,  the  left 
tributary  of  Amazar,  are  lying  groups  which  also  belong 
to  the  Amazar  region;  8)  Kuli-Solonech  group;  9)  The  river 
Dess  group;  10)  The  river  Djapidjak  group;  and  lastly,  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  river  Amazar  are  lying  groups:  11)  Nijne- 
Kavitktin,  and  12)  the  river  Uten  group. 

In  this  district  the  resources  of  gold  in  1917  were  as  fol- 

43 


lows:  along  the  river  Amazar  about  18  Ibs.  with  average  gold- 
content  $0.71;  along  the  river  Big  Amazar  about  90  Ibs.  with 
a-verage  gold  content  $0.42—0.73;  along  the  river  Horogoch 
about  432  Ibs.,  with  average  gold  content  $1.03—1.78;  along 
the  river  Big  Hogoch  about  234  Ibs.,  with  average  gold  content 
$1.10;  along  the  stream  Priamoi,  the  left  tributary  of  the  river 

Big  Mogochi,  about  612  Ibs.,  with  average  gold  content  $0.82 

1.36;  along  the  river  Tangarakt,  the  right  tributary  of  the 
Chichatka,  about  252  Ibs.,  with  average  gold  content  of  $1.94. 

2 — Holodjikan  District — consists  of  two  groups  of  aurifer- 
ous rivers  Holodjikan  and  Daptukan,  which  discharge  them- 
selves into  the  river  Shilka  (at  her  right  side,  a  little  above 
its  conflux  with  the  river  Argun) . 

3 — Gorbachen-Jeltugin  District — is  situted  along  the  left 
tributaries  of  the  river  Shilka,  which  tributaries  discharge  them- 
selves into  the  Shilka  below  the  mouth  of  the  river  Chernaya. 
The  northern  border  of  this  district  is  near  the  Amur  railway. 
The  granites  and  sionites  are  in  the  majority  and  followed  by 
porphyrites,  diorites  and  fazites.  In  the  valley  of  the  river 
Shilka  are  largely  seen  lime-stones  which  are  not  found  in 
the  Amazar  district.  The  main  gold-bearing  groups  are  the 
following:  1)  Verkhne-Jeltugin  group;  2)  Gorbichan  group;  3) 
Ust-Jeltugin  group;  4)  Gorbichan-Xeniev  group;  5)  Kliuchi- 
Bugusein  group,  and  6)  Shaikin  group. 

At  the  left  bank  of  the  river  Jeltuga  there  have  been  dis- 
covered about  162  Ibs.  of  gold,  with  the  average  content  of  $0.67. 

4 — Cherny-Urium  District  is  situated  in  the  summit  of  the 
Cherny  Urium,  which  is  the  left  summit  of  the  river  Chernaya, 
as  well  as  along  the  right  tributary  of  the  river  Itaka.  In  this 
place  here  are,  mainly,  granites,  sionites,  liorites,  and  felsites, 
with  lime-stones  being  almost  entirely  absent. 

This  district  consists  of  three  groups:  1)  the  group  of  the 
summit  of  the  Cherny  Urium;  2)  the  group  of  Itaka;  3)  the 
group  Uriumo-Xeniev. 

In  1917  the  resources  of  gold  in  this  district  were  as  fol- 
lows: along  the  Cherny  Urium  and  its  tributaries  Beresovka, 
Sobachkina  and  stream  Gorky,  Amudjikan — about  4968  Ibs. 

5 Archikov  District — is  situated  in  the  upper  part  of  the 

44 


basin  of  the  river  Biely  Urium,  the  right  summit  of  the  river 
Chernaya.  The  whole  valley  of  the  river  Biely  Urium  is 
crossed  by  the  Amur  Railway. 

6 — Karylsk  and  Ust-Chernin  District — is  situated  on  the 
light  bank  of  the  river  Shilka,  just  above  the  place  where  the 
river  Chernaya  discharges  itself  into  the  river  Schilka.  The 
auriferous  sands  are,  mainly,  in  the  valleys  of  the  left  tribu- 
taries of  the  river  Schilka,  and  only  a  part  of  the  number  of 
such  sands  are  found  along  the  right  tributaries  of  the  river 
Chernaya.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  district  are  found 
granites,  granite-porphyres,  diorites,  prophyries,  phylsites,  and 
gneisses.  In  the  part  of  the  district  which  is  adjacent  to  the 
valley  of  the  river  Schilka,  these  ores  of  minerals  are  absent, 
schists,  conglomerates,  and  limestones  being  found  instead. 

The  district  is  divided  into  the  following  groups:  1)  the 
group  of  right  tributaries  of  the  rivers  Chernaya,  Burukaochi 
and  Ilikan;  2)  the  group  of  Big  and  Small  Kularki,  with  their 
tributaries  Petrova  and  Sharabanikha ;  3)  the  group  Lunjanka- 
Bogacha,  and  4)  the  group  of  the  river  Kara  with  Ivanovka, 
Dmitrievka  and  Kliuchik.  The  sands  along  the  river  Kara  were 
particularly  remarkable  for  containing  gold. 

Gold  resources  along  the  rivers  Ivanovka,  Lunjanka  and 
Big  Kularki  are  held  to  be  about  1332  Ibs.,  with  average  con- 
tent from  $0.45  to  $0.90;  the  resources  of  gold  along  the  river 
Kara  are  held  to  be  about  2412  Ibs.  Besides,  along  Kara  and 
Big  Kularki  are  set  aside  large  plots  which  are  fit  for  me- 
chanical exploitation,  and  contain  about  7812  Ibs.  of  gold,  with 
average  gold-content  from  $0.33  to  0.54. 

7 — The  District  of  Left  Tributaries  of  the  river  Shilka  (the 
tributaries  discharging  themselves  into  the  river  Schilka  above 
the  mouth  of  the  river  Chachy.  This  district  is  also  not  far 
from  the  Stretensk  railway  line.  The  main  auriferous  rivers 
of  the  district  are  Kochertay  and  Kurlicha. 

The  soil  of  the  district  consists,  mainly,  of  granites,  granite 
porphyries,  gneisses,  mica  schists,  lime-stones,  conglomerates, 
etc.,  etc.  In  the  hill  Krestovaya  which  is  situated  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river  Kurlicha,  near  its  mouth,  an  initial  discovery 
of  gold  in  the  quartzite  veins  was  made  in  1877. 

8 — Urulgin   District — is  situated  along  the  right  bank  of 

45 


the  river  Schilka,  below  the  mouth  of  the  river  Onon.  The 
soil  of  the  district  consists  of  granites,  etc. 

The  district  is  divided  into  two  groups:  1)  group  of  the 
river  Peshkova,  with  its  tributaries:  Chinkirihama,  Berdanikha, 
and  Kiburushka,  and  2)  the  group  of  the  river  Aprelkova,  with 
its  small  tributaries. 

In  the  auriferous  sands  of  the  rivers  Urulga,  Aprelkove, 
Bravaya,  Peshkova,  and  Schilka,  the  resources  of  gold  were 
held  to  be  about  936  Ibs.,  with  the  average  content  from  $0.75 
to  $1.15. 

9 — Undin  District  is  situated  along  the  middle  and  lower 
part  of  the  right  slope  of  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda,  which  is 
a  right  tributary  of  the  river  Onon.  It  occupies  the  south  slope 
of  the  valley  of  the  river  Unda,  which  is  a  right  tributary  of 
the  river  Onon.  It  occupies  the  south  slope  of  the  Borshovochini 
mountain  range,  where  the  central  part  consists  of  granites 
and  biotite,  gneisses,  while  along  the  borders  quartzites, 
schists,  lime-stones,  etc.,  are  found. 

The  district  is  divided  into  three  groups:  1)  the  group  of 
the  Youshkov  camp;  2)  to  the  west  is  situated  the  group  of  the 
Kazakovsk  mines,  where  the  river  Kliuchevaya,  its  extension 
Sukhaya,  Pad,  and  the  valley  of  the  river  Kazakova  contain 
auriferous  sands.  In  view  of  the  gold  lying  very  deep,  sub-ter- 
raneous works  are  being  conducted;  3)  20  miles  off  is  situated 
the  Novotroitzk  group,  where  works  of  extraction  of  gold  are 
conducted  in  the  lake-like  extensions  of  the  river  Unda,  as  also 
along  the  right  bank  of  the  river  Unda. 

The  resources  of  gold  are  held  to  be:  1)  at  the  Kazakovsk 
"bench"  with  mine  works  being  conducted — about  1476  Ibs., 
with  average  gold-content  $1.41;  2)  at  the  Novotroitzk  mines, 
with  open  and  mine  works  being  conducted,  about  1170  Ibs., 
with  average  gold  content  from  $0.72-1.13,  While  if  mechanical 
methods  were  applied,  about  2250  Ibs.  with  compound  content 
in  turf  and  sands  about  $0.09. 

10 — Shachtamin  District — is  situated  between  the  basins 
of  the  rivers  Unda  and  Gasimur.  It  consists  of  granites, 
granite  sionites,  diorites,  porphyries,  and  porphyrites;  in  the 
central  part  of  the  district  these  ores  are  absent — sandstones, 
schists  and  limestones  being  found  instead.  The  district  is 

46 


divided  idnto  the  following  groups:  1)  the  group  of  the  river 
Schachtama;  2)  the  group  of  the  river  Ushkanka;  3)  the  group 
of  the  river  Galamnaya;  4)  the  group  of  the  river  Doginja;  5) 
the  group  of  the  river  Kulinda. 

11 — Kultumin  District — is  situated  in  the  middle  part  of  the 
valley  of  the  river  Gasimura  and  along  the  rivers  Kultmna, 
Kultumushka,  Eromay,  Kuley,  Boshogoch,  Gugda  and  Balney. 
The  central  part  of  the  mountain  range  consists  of  granites  and 
gneisses,  which  are  substituted  by  porphyries,  schists,  and  sand- 
stones. This  district  at  the  same  time  contains  silver-lead. 
The  local  auriferous  sands,  along  the  rivers  Gugda  and  Bosho- 
goch, are  remarkable  for  their  containing  in  the  schlichs  of 
grains  of  minerals,  torianite,  together  with  leadstone  and  car- 
bonic bismuth. 

12 — Tainin  District — is  situated  between  the  heads  of  the 
rivers  Uriumkan,  Urov,  Gasimur  and  its  left  tributary  Zola.  The 
hills'  soil  consists  of  granites,  granite-sionite,  diorite,  whch  on 
the  slopes  are  substituted  by  schists,  sandstones,  and  grauvak 
ores. 

The  auriferous  sands  of  this  district  are  situated  along  the 
right  tributaries  of  Gasiumr-Priamaya  Taina  with  its  left  trib- 
utary Bistraya,  and,  in  turn,  its  tributary  Tokovaya;  there  are 
sands  along  the  cavity  Sherokaga,  along  the  left  tributary 
Uriumkanskaya  Taina  and  the  Ildikan  Gasimursky. 

13 — Krasnoyarsk  District —  is  situated  along  the  right  tribu- 
taries of  the  river  Gasimur  (in  the  cavities  Suhaya  and  Borov- 
skaya)  which  tributaries  dicharge  themselves  in  the  river 
Gasimur  below  the  mouth  of  Zola. 

14 — Olenuisk  District — is  situated  along  the  Akatuy,  the  left 
tributary  of  the  river  Gasimur,  near  the  Akatuev  silver-lead 
deposit. 

15.  Uriumkan  District — is  situated  at  the  southeastern 
slope  of  the  mountain  range  which  divides  the  basins  of  the 
rivers  Burdiukan  and  Uriumkan,  along  the  tributaries  of  the 
latter  Bielokoguch,  Lugich,  and  Lugikichan,  and  also  along 
the  valley  Uriumkan  (near  the  mouth).  The  area  is  little  in- 
vestigated both  from  the  geological  point  of  view  and  as  far  as 
gold  bearing  is  concerned. 

16 — Budiumkan  District — is  situated  along  the  small  river 
Kuchuga. 

47 


17— Kudein  District— is  situated  on  the  right  slope  of  the 
mountain  range  extending  along  the  left  side  of  Urova.  A 
tributary  Kudeya  discharges  itself  into  Urova  (in  the  lower 
part  of  the  latter,  from  its  left  side).  The  heads  of  Kudeya 
contain  gold.  Besides  the  river  Kudeya,  its  right-side  tribu- 
taries are  also  said  to  contain  gold.  Further  along  several 
rivers  which  discharge  themselves  into  the  river  Argun  (from 
the  latter's  left  side)  are  held  to  contain  gold. 

18— Gidarin  ^District— is  situated  on  both  slopes  of*  the 
mountain  range  which  divides  the  two  heads  of  the  river  Urov, 
one  of  the  two  heads  being  called  Gidary. 

The  rivers  Big  and  Small  /Borovushka,  Big  and  Small 
Bulatka,  Jerdovka  and  Jagutina  are  held  to  contain  gold. 

19 — Nijne-Borsinsk  District — is  divided  into  several  groups. 
A  part  of  the  District  is  situated  along  the  tributaries  of  Big 
Zerentuy  (Dve  Shamanki) ;  another  part  of  the  district — along 
the  left  tributaries  of  the  Nijniaya  Borzia  (rivers  Korjiha,  Lo- 
patikha,  Brekachanka) ,  a  further  part — along  the  right  tribu- 
taries of  Nijniaya  Borzia  (Kozlika  and  Shirokaya).  The  chan- 
nel of  the  Middle  Borzia,  its  left  tributaries  Munia  and  Solkoken, 
as  also  the  right  tributaries  Zverinetz  and  Bogomolovka,  are 
held  to  contain  gold.  To  the  south  of  the  main  strip  of  the 
auriferous  land  are  found  gold  mines  situated  along  the  Serni 
Ildikan,  the  heads  of  the  Chashinsky  Ildikan — Mirsky  and 
Kasenny  Ildikan  and  the  Chashinsky  Ildikan,  below  the  two 
above-mentioned  heads.  The  gold  containing  parts  of  land  are 
situated  among  the  outlets  of  massive-crystallic  and  schist  ores 
surounded  by  outlets  of  vulcanites. 

This  latter  fact  prompts  to  make  a  deduction  of  gold-sands 
being  buried  under  volcanic  ores.  All  the  auriferous  sands  of 
this  region  are  situated  in  the  area  of  silver-lead  deposits.  Be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  the  sand  is  adjacent  to  a  quicksilver 
mine,  in  its  schlichs  is  often  found  a  great  quantity  of  cinnabar. 

Along  a  number  of  rivers  of  this  district,  as  well  as  in  the 
adjacent  districts  (Middle  Borzia,  Lopatina,  Serni  Ildikan, 
Kulie,  Small  Borovaya,  Urova,  Dikaya,  Lugie,  Cheremukhova, 
Mirsk  Ildikan,  Shirokaya),  gold  resources  have  been  discovered 
for  both  super-terraneous  and  sub-terraneous  works — about 
2178  Ibs.  The  average  gold  content  varies  from  $0.40  to  1.35. 

48 


20 — Baldjin  District — is  situated  in  the  south-western  part 
of  the  ex-Nerchinsk  District  near  the  mountain  range  which 
separates  the  heads  of  Chikoy  and  the  basins  of  the  river  Onon. 
The  mouths  of  these  rivers,  Ashingi,  Baldji  and  Kirkun,  where 
the  heads  are  situated  at  this  spot  summit  level,  extend  into 
Mongolia.  The  -mountain  range  consists  of  granites,  which,  in 
some  places,  are  replaced  by  lime-schists,  conglomerates  in- 
tersected by  numerous  veins  of  quartz. 

In  this  district  are  known  numerous  gold-containing  rivers 
which  are  worked,  partly  by  the  government  and  partly  by 
private  owners. 

III. 

FUNDAMENTAL  GOLD  DEPOSITS  IN  THE  ZABAIKAL 

PROVINCE 

1.  Gold  is  found  along  the  stream  of  Khorogochi,  the  left 
tributary  of  the  river  Amazara,  entering  about  three  or  four 
versts  below  the  mouth  of  the  river  Mogochi.     There  are  7 
quartz  veins  of  auriferous  nature;  has  been  little  investigated 
and  not  mined.    The  proportion  of  gold  was  up  to  $4.50. 

2.  Along  the  head- waters  of  the  stream  Amumnnaya,  the 
left  tributary  of  the  river  Amazara,  a  sulphur  ore  vein  con- 
taining gold. 

3.  At  the  head-waters  of  the  river  Maly  Urium,   on  a 
mountain  peak  200  meters  above  the  level  of  the  valley  of  the 
river.    Auriferous  quartzite.    Has  been  little  investigated;  aver- 
age contents  of  gold  from  $1.50  to  $3.00  per  ton. 

4.  Along  the  stream  Kliucha,  the  right  tributary  of  the 
river  Bogodzhio,  which  flows  from  the  left  side,  into  the  river 
Zheltuga — the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Shilka.     A  thick  vein 
of  from  12  to  30  pounds;  the  average  proportion  of  gold  is  $7.15. 
Has  been  mined  for  several  years,  but  about  eight  years  ago 
mining  was  stopped. 

5.  Along  the  river  Kara,  the  Dmitrev  deposit,  situated  on 
the  watershed  between  the  source  of  the  Kara  river  and  the 
headwaters  of  the  Ivanovka  stream,  its  right  tributary.    Many 

49 


veins  of  auriferous  quartz-turmaline  rock  of  varying  thickness, 
with  an  average  proportion  of  gold  of  about  $9.00.  The  general 
supply  of  gold  contained  in  the  veins  already  investigated  has 
been  estimated  at  about  1,440  Ibs.;  has  not  been  mined. 

6.  On  the  embankment,  along  the  Upper  Kara,  opposite 
the  Amur  village,  occur  thin  quartz  veins  of  1  to  3  m.m.  with 
visible  gold. 

7.  Near  the  camp  on  the  Verkhnaya  Kara,  and  at  a  dis- 
tance of  iy2  versts  below  it,  there  have  been  found  quartz  veins 
and  sands  with  visible  gold.    Not  investigated. 

8.  At  the  mouth  of  the  stream  Kurlycha,  the  left  tribu- 
tary of  the  river  Shilka,  opposite  the  Yepifantsev  village,  lies 
the  Krestov  gold  ore  deposit,  discovered  in  1777.     In  view  of 
the  small  proportion  of  gold  it  contains  ($1.40  per  ton),  the 
double  process  of  extracting  was  abandoned. 

9.  Along  the  stream  Dilmachek,  the  left  tributary  of  the 
River  Shilka,  there  is  on  the  source  an  open  deposit,  amidst 
granite.     This,  however,  was  little  investigated,  and  the  re- 
sults of  the  work  are  unknown. 

10.  The  Darasun  gold  deposits  are  situated  along  the  river 
Uzur-Malakha,  the  upper  right  tributary  of  the  river  Darasun, 
the  left  tributary  of  the  River  Torgo,  which  flows,  from  the  right 
into  the  river  Nercha.     These  are  rich  deposits,  Which  have 
been  little  investigated  at  various  times  and  stopped  in  1918. 
The  average  proportion  of  gold  is  not  less  than  $6.00  to  $7.50 
per  ton,  in  some  places  considerably  more. 

11.  On  the  watershed  between  the  river  Naraka,  the  left 
tributary  of  the  river  Kiya,  the  tributary  of  the  river  Shilka,  and 
the  river  Denaka,  the  right  tributary  of  the  river  Edakuy,  which 
enters,  from  the  right,  the  river  Dulurga,  the  right  tributary 
of  the  river  Nerch. 

12.  Along  the  river  Mirsanova,  in  the  Arulgin  region,  two 
quartz  veins  of  auriferous  character,  with  a  proportion  of  gold 
of  $1.50  to  $7.50. 

13.  At  the  shaft  of  the  Sluchainyi  gold  mine,  within  the 
Urulga  river  system,  occurs  a  quartz  vein  with  a  gold  propor- 
tion of  $1.60. 

SO 


14.  At  the  rapids  of  the  Chenkirikha,  which  enters,  from 
the  right,  the  Pravaya  Peshkova,  in  the  soil  of  the  shaft,  there 
occurs  a  strongly  kaolinic  layer  with  a  considerable  proportion 
of  gold. 

15.  The  Kasakov  gold  ore  region  is  situated  along  the 
river  Kasakov,  the  right  tributary  of  the  river  (Unda.    Numer- 
ous quartz  veins  of  auriferous  nature,  which  yield  a  proportion 
of   gold   of   $2.25,    $7.50,    $16.50.     The   total   amount  mined 
amounted  to  707  Ibs.,  with  an  average  proportion  of  gold  $6.00. 

16  and  17.  To  the  west  of  the  river  Kasakova,  at  the 
source  of  the  river  Buyanikha,  and  in  the  glen  of  Zamorikha, 
unsufficiently  investigated  auriferous  veins. 


18.  On  the  left  bank  of  the  river  Unda,  at  a  distance  of  1% 
versts  below  the  village  of  Novotroitsky,  a  quartz  vein  with  a 
proportion  of  gold  of  $6.00. 

19.  In  the  Ust-Baley  lot,  on  the  right  terrace  of  the  valley 
of  the  river  Unda,  between  the  village  of  Novotroitsk  and  the 
pond  at  the  Novotroitsk  mine,  a  quartz  vein  with  a  propor- 
tion of  gold  of  about  $6.00. 

20.  In  the  valley  of  the  river  Shunduya,  the  lower  left 
tributary  of  the  lake  Unda,  occur  numerous  quartz  veins  of 
auriferous  nature,  in  some  of  which  the  proportion  of  gold  was 
about  $15.00. 

21.  In  the  Uruliunguy  mountain  range,  in  the  Chistyakov 
mine  at  a  depth  of  21  meters,  occurs  a  quartz  vein  with  silver- 
lead  glance,  having  a  proportion  of  gold  from  $2.65  to  $34.50. 

22.  In  the  same  region,  in  a  branch  of  the  Urtuy  range, 
occurs  a  vein  of  auriferous  quartz. 

23.  The  Kutul  auriferous  veins  are  found  in  the  massif 
situated  in  the  tongue  of  land  between  the  River  Tura  and  its 
left  tributary  Zhimbira,  at  the  source  of  the  Kutul.  The  average 
proportion  of  gold  was  over  $4.50.    The  mining  of  it  stopped 
in  1918. 

24.  The  Ilin  deposits  are  found  on  the  right  side  of  the 
valley  of  the  river  Bezymyanka,  at  a  distance  of  iy2  versts  from 
its  entrance,  from  the  right,  into  the  river  Ilia,  at  22  versts  above 

51 


ae  village  of  Krasnoyarsky.     Near  the  quartz-porphyry  veins 

here  occurs  a  layer  of  biotite  granite  ore.    Percentage  of  gold 

from  $6.00  to  $200.00.    These  deposits  have  been  mined  many 

times  since  1884,  but  on  account  of  the  small  proportion  of 

gold,  mining  has  been  stopped  for  the  last  ten  years. 

25.  The  Yevgrafov  deposit  lies  at  the  source  of  the  river 
Sredni  Khongorok — the  left  tributary  of  the  river  Kira,  which 
flows,  from  the  left,  into  the  river  Onon,  at  about  150  versts 
above  the  City  of  Aksha.    A  massive  quartz  vein,  with  numer- 
ous small  veins.     They  have  been  mined  since  1884  up  to  the 
present  time,  with  but  two  interruptions  for  a  short  time.    The 
proportion  of  gold  extracted  used  to  be  from  $6.00  to  $45.00; 
at  the  present  time  the  proportion  is  from  $6.00  to  $15.00. 

26.  The  Yevdokiev  mine  lies  at  the  source  of  the  stream 
Bayan-Zurga,  the  right  tributary  of  the  River  Sredni  Khon- 
gorok.   A  quartz  vein  with  a  proportion  of  gold  from  $6.00  to 
$15.00.      This  deposit  has  been  mined  for  a  short  time  in  the 
eighties  and  again  in  the  nineties  of  the  last  century. 

27.  The    Khongorok    deposits    besides    the    two    above 
named,  in  the  system  of  the  Khongorok  rivers,  at  their  source, 
there  are  numerous  quartz  veins  of  auriferous  nature,  which  are 
as  yet  not  much  explored. 

28.  Along  the  river  Kharnara,  the  right  tributary  of  the 
river  Tyrina,  which,  from  the  right,  flows  into  the  river  Onon 
there  is  a  quartz  vein  of  auriferous  nature,  which,  at  the  end 
of  the  last  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  was 
mined  for  a  short  time.     Mining,  however,  was  stopped  long 
ago. 

The  Baldzhinsky  Auriferous  Veins 

On  the  watershed,  lying  on  one  side,  between  the  sources 
of  the  river  Baldzha,  the  left  tributary  of  the  Onon  river, 
the  Nizhny  and  Sredny  Baldzhir  rivers,  and  the  stream  Barun- 
Salon,  which  flows  into  the  Pravaya  Baldzha,  and  on  the  other 
side,  the  stream  Chineya,  the  right  tributary  of  the  Chikoy  river, 
occur  scattered  in  various  places  8  auriferous  veins,  already 
investigated,  at  the  surface  as  well  as  at  a  depth  of  from  21  to 
70  feet.  The  proportion  of  gold  in  various  veins  as  assayed  was 

52 


found  to  be  from  $3.00  to  $12.00,  or  $15.00  per  ton.     These 
deposits  have  not  been  mined. 

29.  On  the  mountain  ridge,  between  the  tributaries  of  the 
Lower  Baldzhira — Banny  and  Perevalny, — at  the  right  slope  of 
the  latter. 

30.  At  a  distance  of  half  a  verst  from  29,  at  the  source 
of  the  Perevalnaya  river,  on  the  watershed  between  the  latter 
and  the  Bezymyanka  stream,  which  is  a  tributary  of  the  Chiney 
river. 

31.  On  the  right  slope  of  the  Perevalnaya  river  and  up 
to  the  watershed  which  divides  it  from  the  valley  of  the  Sredny 
Baldzhir  river. 

32.  Between  the  source  of  the  Banny  Klyuch  and  the 
Bezymyanka  river,  along  the  slope  toward  the  Banny  Klyuch. 

33.  On  the  crest  of  the  Golts  mountain,  between  the  rivers 
Chiney  and  Nizhny  ©aldzhir. 

34.  On  the  crest  of  the  mountain  ridge  lying  between  the 
sources  of  the  rivers  Perevalnaya  and  Sredny  Baldzhir. 

35.  On  the  watershed  dividing  the  Banny  and  Medvezhy 
springs,  tributaries  of  the  Lower  Baldzhir  river,  and  along  the 
slopes  inclining  towards  the  valleys  of  these  streams. 

36.  On  the  large  right  slope  of  the  Elizavetsky  rivulet  the 
right  tributary  of  the  stream  Barun-Salon,  which  flows  into  the 
Right  Baldzha  river. 


IV. 

LIST  OF  GOLD  BEARING  RIVERS  IN  EASTERN  ZABAIKAL 
OPEN  TO  PRIVATE  GOLD  MINING 


Name    of  River 

Location 

ioj 
«u 
1 

1 

3 

•S^3 

*3 
41 

g 
1  -2 

Sir0    W 

&s>! 

^S    H* 

£>  "o  S 
^^5  ^ 

1.  Andreevka   

Left  Tributary  River  Tura  

1 

$1  r 

2.  Arana    

Tributary  Molotovoy  

1 

.45 

3.  Brown-Hamara 

System  of  the  Upper  Onon  

A 

Inc 

4.  BaJdzha  

System  of  the  Upper  Onon  

.05 

O1      "3.6. 

5.  Bayan-Zurga  .. 

Tributary   Middle   Hongork  

in 

•3 

.^l-.OO 

of      C-3 

6.  Barsuchikha  .... 

Tributary  Upper  Baidetui  

J 

.zo-.oo 

7.  Baizetui  

Left  Tributary  Ingoda  

f. 

on  <-/->.  1  CA 

8.  Baljikan   

System  Onon  

0 

.zu  to  l.ou 

9   Boitza   

Left  Tributary  Zharcha 

. 

.30 

OQ 

10.  Buktocha    

Left  Tributary  Nerchugan  .. 

1 

.00 

11.  Bistraya    

Left  Tributary  Taina 

AO 

12.  Gorokhon   

Right  Tributary  Alengui  

. 
i 

1 

A£ 

97    ^f! 

13.  Girmnak   

Left  Tributary  Ingoda  

0 

9fl 

14.  Darasun    

Left  Tributary  Troga  «.. 

10 

,L\J 

f\(\  f  f\  ^  nr> 

15.  Depaka   

Right  Tributary  Edakui  

1  ^ 

1 

An 

16.  Dzhermagatay.. 

Right  Tributary  of  Girmanka 

-? 

1" 

.HU 

•7-J 

17.  Dilmanchik    .... 

Left  Tributary  of  Ingoda  

7 

.jo 

07    79 

18.  Dibika  

Tributary  of  Aratza  

i 

1 

97    /in 

19.  Ernichnaya  
20.  Zharcha    
21    Zhimbtra 

System  of  Tura 

1 

7 

"5 

i 

.30-.54 

22.  Zagdaka    

Tributary  of  Kienken  

i 

....| 
i 

22 

23   Zubkona 

Right  Tributary  of  Kiuchina 

i 

1 

1  fin 

24.  Zurga    

1 

l.UU 

25.  Zimkina- 
Edanka  

System  of  Kirmanak  

21 

26'.  Ilia  

Left  Tributary  of  Onon  

A 

0 

1  in  tr»9  9$ 

27   Ildikan  .    .     . 

System  of  Gazimur  

1 

i 

AZ 

28.  Kamenka    

Left  Tributary  of  Turgin  

1 

29.  Kienken    

Tributary  of  Kiia  

2 

2 

40 

30  Kiia 

Left  Tributary  of  Shilka 

o 

9 

•JA 

31.  Kibacha  

Right  Tributary  of  Bituy  

I 

I 

1  no 

32    Kruchina    

Left  Tributary  of  Ingoda  

12 

7 

en  tn  i  no 

33   Kuchinga 

Left  Tributary  of  Kruchina 

2 

i 

4C 

34   Kundulutn 

System  of  Onon 

? 

i 

94 

35   Kudzhertay  

Left  Tributary  of  Grimanka 

I 

I 

"iO 

36.  Kurlukta  

System  of  Tura  

1 
6 

.54 

38   Lugie    

System  of  Urimkan  

1 

I 

42 

39.  Mendukuy  

Left  Tributary  of  Zharcha  

] 

I 

40.  Molotoi  

Right  Tributary  of  Ingoda  

1 

41.  Mordvinekha  .. 
42  Naranya 

Left  Tributary  of  Edakay 

1 
1 

.... 

.... 

43   Naraka 

Left  Tributary  of  Kiia 

6 

3 

33 

44  Nerchugan  

Left  Tributary  of  Nercha  

2 

45   Nikichekha  .... 

Left  Tributary  of  Ingoda 

2 

46.  Ogikuy   

Right  Tributary  of    Uldurga    System 
of   Nercha  ."  

1 

.... 

.... 

54 


Name    of   River 

Location 

to 

1 

0* 
g 

No.  Mines 
Worked 

il 

<U    C5    . 

fcj 

Ml 

47.    Pozdnyachikha 
48.  Popadeykivo 
Kliiirh 

Right  Tributary  of  Upper  Baydetuy.. 
Right  Tributary  of  Naraka  

1 
1 

1 

$    .45 

Left  Tributary  of  Olenuy  

•  ••• 

•  ••* 

Left  Tributary  of  Tura  

1 

.... 

.... 

51    Talaia   

1 

1 

•  ••• 

C?    Tprpnka 

Right  Tributary  of  Zharcha  ,  

o 

C7     Tonaalc 

Right  Tributary  of  Zharcha  

6 

•* 

27-40 

C4.    Tnrtrp 

Right  Tributary  of  Nercha  

Left  Tributary  of  Ingoda  

A 

•  *.« 

••** 

56   Tokova   

Left  Tributary  of  Bistria,  System  of 

•  ••• 

•  ••• 

Gazimur    

1 

57.  Tochnikovo    .... 

Left  Tributary  of  Kutsogar,  System 
of  Unda   

2 

CQ    Tnra 

Right  Tributary  of  Ingoda  

15 

3 

45  to  1  35 

CQ     "K"Viavprcra 

System  of  Onon  

4 

i 

1  50 

^0     T<TJiav1a  cttiv 

System  of  Onon                               

i 

System  of  Onon  

.... 

.20  to  1.00 

62.  Lower 
Khongork    

Left  Tributary  of  Shunduya  

is 
i 

7 

8 
1 

7.00  to  13.50 
.36 

Right  Tributary  of  Darasun 

? 

9  10  tr\77$ 

65    Ushakan 

Left  Tributary  of  Baytsetuy  

i 

i 

00 

66.  Ulakan 

67    T  11  pair 

Tributary  of  Great  Baytsa,  which  is 
the    Right    Tributary    of    Zenkuy, 
which  is  a  tributary  of  the  Urulga.. 
Left  Tributary  of  Molotova  

3 
I 

68    fTiprrmkha 

Left  Tributary  of  Ingoda 

i 

.... 

**"* 

69   Shakhrnatay 

Right  Tributary  of  Unda  

1 

•••• 

24 

70.  Shara- 
Gorokhon. 

Right  Tributary  of  Tura,      

1 

1 

60 

71     Shivia 

Right  Tributary  of  Tura 

1 

72    Shikogda 

Left  Tributary  of  Hi  

1 

1 

54 

73.  Shunduy   

Right  Tributary  of  Kalaguy,  System 
of  Unda  

9 

74.  Edakuy   

Right  Tributary  of    Uldurga,    which 
is  the  right  tributary  of  Nercha  

2 

2 

.30-.55 

55 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  GOLD  MINING  INDUSTRY  IN  THE  MARITIME  AND 
PRIAMUR   PROVINCES 

With  regard  to  the  mining  conditions,  the  whole  gold-bear- 
ing territory  is  divided  sharply  into  two  main  parts:  the  northern 
part — the  system  of  Amur  and  Okhotsk  sea,  and  the  southern 
part — the  system  of  small  rivers  of  the  South-Ussury  district. 
The  systems  of  the  Amur  and  Okhotsk  Sea  contain  all  the 
data  rendering  possible  a  wide  development  of  the  gold  industry. 
The  rather  small  development  of  the  systems  practised  here- 
tofore is  accountable  for  the  fact  that  the  District  is  remote  from 
other  more  populated  and  cultured  regions  of  the  Far  East  and 
it  is  little  inhabited  itself.  The  absence  of  roads  throughout 
the  territory  renders  it  impassable  during  the  autumn  and 
spring  floods.  In  summer  it  is  also  but  little  passable  because  of 
the  considerable  amount  of  marshy  land.  The  only  convenient 
ways  of  communication,  (in  summer  by  ships  and  boats  ;in  win- 
ter over  the  ice  by  horses  and  dogs),  are  the  water- w^ays:  Amur, 
Amgun,  the  lakes,  Udil,  Roel  and  Chlia,  with  their  navigable 
water-courses,  which  connect  them  with  Amur  and  other  numer- 
ous navigable  small  rivers.  The  gold-containing  area^  have 
been  discovered  in  this  part  of  ,the  Maritime  Province)  in  the 
eighties  of  the  preceding  century;  at  first  due  to  the  territory 
being  inaccessible,  no  work  was  being  done. 

Since  the  nineties  there  began  a  revival  of  the  gold  industry, 
along  the  Amgun  and  its  tributaries.  Large  gold-mining  enter- 
prises of  Amur  (Blagoveshchensk),  firms  of  Elzov  and  Leva- 
shev,  and  along  the  rivers  Sema  and  Kerby — the  Priamur  Co. 
and  Amgun  Co.  have  been  established. 

In  years  immediately  following  their  establishment,  the 
annual  output  of  each  of  the  above  named  enterprises  was  from 
1080-1800  Ibs.,  gold  content  averaging  up  to  $3.00  and  upwards. 

56 


The  construction  of  the  Ussury  and  Transbaikal  Railway 
has  given  a  great  impetus  to  the  development  of  the  gold  in- 
dustry. About  the  lower  part  of  the  river  Amgun;  quite  a  large 
number  of  discoveries  of  gold  along  the  systems  of  the  Lakes 
Orel  and  Chlia,  along  the  systems  of  the  rivers  of  the  Okhotsk 
coast  Kol,  Uda,  and  the  system  of  the  lake  Udil,  is  being  made; 
new  gold-mining  enterprises  are  being  formed,  such  as  Amur- 
Orel,  Okhotsk  and  a  number  of  minor  companies. 

Notwithstanding  the  very  difficult  conditions,  with  the  ab- 
sence of  roads  and  the  small  development  of  transport,  the 
newly-opened  enterprises  have  yielded  during  the  first  decade 
over  1000  poods  of  registered  gold,  with  the  average  content 
up  to  $1.95  to  a  ton. 

With  the  works  being  entirely  irregular  and  the  expenses 
allowed  for  surveying  being  small,  the  newly-opened  enterprises 
could  not  organize  themselves  on  a  stable  basis;  they  were 
aiming,  chiefly,  at  getting  hold  of  the  most  valuable  lots  of  the 
discovered  districts,  and  paid  no  attention  to  finding  and  em- 
ploying improved  methods  for  the  exploitation  of  the  poorer  lots 
(below  $0.90  to  a  ton),  which  were  being  neglected.  Accord- 
ingly, after  a  rapid  increase  in  the  output  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  nineties,  beginning  with  1903  there  has  been  a  rapid  decline 
in  the  gold  output  due  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  richer  deposits 
and  the  little  application  of  mechanical  methods  of  mining 
whereby  use  could  be  made  of  the  untouched  poorer  territories. 

While  in  1899  the  total  output  of  gold  registered  Was  6349 
Ibs.,  and  in  1903 — 7633  Ibs.  (the  record  figure  for  the  output  of 
gold),  in  the  year  following  the  output  declined,  and  in  1910 
it  amounted  to  1796  Ibs. 

The  continual  decline  in  the  output,  as  a  result  of  the  "pil- 
laging" methodsn(the  term  "pillaging"  is  used  to  explain  that 
gold  was  being  extracted  by  illegitimate  means  by  persons  hav- 
ing no  right  thereto),  can  be  seen  from  the  following  table  show- 
ing the  output  of  gold  for  five  years,  viz.,  1906-1910: 

Year 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

57 


No.  of  Mines 
24 
31 
31 
42 
46 

Output  (Ibs.) 
3,334 
2,459 
3,007 
2,314 
1,977 

No.  of  Workmen 
2,964 
3,323 
3,562 
3,715 
5,135 

Since  1911  there  began  a  gradual  increase  in  the  output  of 
gold,  which  can  be  seen  from  the  data  given  below: 

Year          Output  of  Gold  (Ibs.) 

1911 2,736 

1912 5.076 

1913 5,699 

1914 6,429 

The  increase  in  the  output  since  1911  is  accountable  for 
by  the  development  of  dredge  work  in  the  Maritime  Province; 
beginning  with  that  year,  there  have  been  brought  into  employ 
two  dredges  by  a  foreign  firm,  formerly  Okhotsk  Co.,  and 
one  dredge  was  added  to  the  one  used  by  the  Amgun  Co.,  at 
Nikolaievsk-Alekseevsk  mine;  in  the  system  of  the  lake  Udil 
one  dredge  was  also  brought  into  employ  by  the  Novo-Udil  Co., 
but  the  poor  construction  of  the  barge  caused  damage  to  the 
dredge,  and  it  had,  therefore,  been  in  active  service  for  but  a 
short  time. 

The  work  of  the  dredges  is  shown  in  the  following  table, 
which  was  compiled  from  data  taken  in  1913: 


Enterprises  and 
Dredges 

Quantity  of 
gold  washed 
cubic  yards 

Output 
Ibs. 

Quantity  of 
gold  per  12.7 
cu.  yd.  of  ore 

$ 

Orsk  Co.     The  leaseholders 

of  Okhotsk  mines.  Californian 

deep-drawing  dredge;  drawing 

capacity  754  cubic  feet 

379,197 

712 

$  6.25 

Dredge  with  drawing 

capacity  —  Zl/2  cubic  feet 

114.656 

375 

10.60 

Amgun  Co. 

Dredge  No.  1  ;  drawing 
capacity  —  3  cu.  ft. 

115.125 

87 

3.15 

Dredge  No.  2;  drawing 

Capacity  —  ¥/2  cu.  ft. 

219.125 

197 

3.10 

Total  output  by  dredges 

1,371 

The  large  dredge  of  the  Orsk  Co.  of  the  Californian  type, 
the  depth  of  drawing  of  which  is  7  feet,  has  steam  heat  which 
is  serving  not  only  for  the  heating  of  the  washing  appliances, 
but,  chiefly,  for  the  warming  up  of  water  flowing  into  the  wash- 
ing sluices.  Because  of  such  construction,  the  dredge  extends 
the  washing  period  to  December,  and,  on  the  whole,  allows  230 
washing  days  as  against  190  washing  days  of  the  Amgun  Co., 
\vhich  did  not  introduce  such  heating  in  their  dredges. 

The  large  dredge  of  the  Orsk  Co.  is  equipped  with  electric 

58 


light,  the  current  being  supplied  by  the  Central  Station  which 
is  ten  miles  off;  the  capacity  of  the  station  is  sufficient  to  fur- 
nish the  entire  number  of  mining  territories  of  the  system  of  the 
Lake  Chlia,  these  territories  being  suitable  for  work  with 
dredges. 

The  small  dredge  of  the  Orsk  Co.  is  worked  by  steam  heat, 
this  dredge  having  been  built  in  this  manner:  the  mechanism 
for  the  dredge  was  taken  from  an  excavator,  while  the  barge 
and  the  work  of  assembling  was  made  in  the  "taiga"  (marshy 
forest) . 

It  is  worth  while  remembering,  that  the  absence  of  freez- 
ing and  the  considerable  development  of  the  river  valleys  with 
large  alluvial  sediments  of  soil  in  the  systems  of  Orel,  Chlia 
and  Udil,  and  also  a  considerable  increase  of  such  sediments 
of  soil  in  the  upper  part  of  the  river  Amgun  (the  systems  of 
rivers  Semi  and  Kerbi),  will  make  possible  in  the  future  the 
dredge  work,  on  a  large  scale,  in  the  Maritime  Province  (the 
northern  part  of  it). 

Gold  Bearing  Districts 

Of  the  principal  gold-bearing  districts  mention  should  be 
made  of  the  following: 

1.  The  district  of  the  river  Semi — left  tributary  of  Amgun. 

2.  The  district  of  the  river  Gongren — the  right  tributary 
of  Kerbi.    In  particular,  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  region 
situated  along  its  right  tributary  Sulakitkan  which  is  separated 
f  rom  the  river  Semi  by  a  short  but  high  summit  level. 

3.  The  district  of  river  Kerbi,  down  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Gongren,  with  the  adjacent  tributaries. 

The  native  ore-rocks  in  these  districts  are  the  crystallic 
schists  (phyllites),  which  come  in  direct  touch  with  granite 
inassives  through  the  medium  of  gneisses.  So  far  no  deposits 
of  gold  ore  have  been  discovered,  and,  in  general,  the  question 
has  not  been  considered. 

The  river  valleys — in  particular,  the  main  valleys  are  wide 
and  often  contain  large  alluvial  sediments  of  soil.  At  present 
in  view  of  the  exhaustion  of  the  rich  deposits,  the  Amgun  Co. 
began  introducing  dredges.  So  far  they  have  installed  two 

59 


dredges  at  the  Nikolaiev-Alexeevsk  mine,  situated  along  Kerbi 
and  down  the  mouth  of  the  river  Gongren. 

The  System  of  Middle  Amgun— Attention  should  be  paid 
to  the  region  covered  by  the  tributaries  of  Amgun,  near  the 
Udin  Storehouse,  along  the  rivers  Herpuchi  and  Hon,  where 
the  output  of  gold  during  the  end  of  the  last  century  was  up 
to  3600  Ibs.  The  extraction  of  gold  is  being  made  solely  from 
the  alluvial  sediments  of  the  present  day  river  valleys,  although 
there  are  a  number  of  indications  leading  to  the  belief  that 
there  is  gold  in  the  "benches".  There  have  been  no  investiga- 
tions for  the  purpose  of  finding*  gold  there. 

The  System  of  the  Lower  Part  of  Amgun — Mention  should 
be  made  of  the  lakes  Orel  and  Chlia  and,  in  thi  s  connection,  the 
region  of  the  river  Kol  which  discharges  itself  into  the  Okhotsk 
Sea.  Along  the  Kolchan,  the  tributary  of  the  river  Kol,  at  the 
mines  Sretensk  and  Pokrovsk,  the  output  of  gold  Worked  by 
the  Okhotsk  Co.  in  the  nineties  amount  to  several  thousands  of 
pounds:  a  foreign  firm  calling  itself  the  "Orksaya  Co.  ",  the 
present  lease-holders,  have  used  two  dredges  here;  the  work 
of  the  dredges  has  been  described  above. 

Even  approximate  data  as  to  the  resources  of  gold  in  the 
named  districts  iis  not  available;  gold  being  plentiful  and  new 
deposits  of  gold  being  discovered  from  time  to  time,  there  was 
no  inducement  towards  incurring  heavy  expenses  in  connec- 
tion with  making  detailed  surveys.  The  activities  were,  there- 
fore, being  confined  only  to  occasional  discoveries. 

Of  late  the  Udil  region  situated  to  the  North  of  the  lake 
Udil  has  become  important.  In  recent  years  the  major  part 
of  gold,  viz.,  not  less  than  1800  Ibs.  per  year,  has  been  received 
from  this  region.  The  development  of  the  gold  industry  is 
handicapped  because  the  roads  are  bad.  This  region  is  es- 
pecially adaptable  to  work  by  dredges,  for  the  gold  is  evenly 
distributed  in  the  gold-bearing  areas.  The  latter  factor  makes 
it  unsuitable  for  manual  labor.  In  this  connection,  special  at- 
tention should  be  given  to  the  system  of  rivers  Big  and  Small 
Bitki,  the  river  Bichi  and,  further,  the  river  Pochil  and  lake 
Djagdach. 

In  addition  to  what  is  set  forth  above,  the  World  war  and 
the  entire  disorganization  of  the  economic  life  and  the  system 

60 


of  supply  reacted,  in  the  first  instance,  on  the  output  of  gold 
in  such  little  developed  (economically)  districts  as  the  northern 
part  of  the  Maritime  Province.  Because  of  the  difficulty  in 
supplying  the  territory  of  the  marshy  forests  with  products 
and  the  workmen  leaving  it,  in  1915,  the  gold  output  decreased 
to  50%,  it  then  being  3,240  Ibs.  (the  figures  are  approximate) ; 
in  .1916  the  output  decreased  to  50%  of  the  output  of  1915, 
1,620  Ibs.  Exact  data  are  not  available;  as  regards  the  succes- 
sive years,  there  is  no  data  at  all. 

Ways  of  Communication  in  the  Mining  Districts 

All  the  gold  mines  in  the  Northern  part  of  the  Maritime 
Province  were  centered  around  the  town  of  Nikolaievsk  s-Amur. 
Communication  with  Nikolaievsk  s-Amur  was  carried  on  by 
steamers. 

Prior  to  the  revolution,  a  regular  service  of  merchantmen 
was  maintained  in  the  Amgun  river,  and  steamers  ran  between 
Nikolaievsk  and  the  point  of  Amgun — the  residence  Kerbi  (256 
miles).  In  the  winter  between  Nikolaievsk  and  Kerbi  mail  was 
delivered  by  horses.  The  establishment  of  this  service  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  development  of  the  gold  industry  due  to 
the  close  connection  of  the  mine  regions  with  the  distributing 
center  of  the  Province. 

A  good  carriage-road,  56  miles  long,  connects  the  residence 
of  Kerbi  with  the  mines  along  the  river  Semi,  and  extends  fur- 
ther on  along  the  rivers  Gongren  and  Sulkitkan.  The  road  was 
built  at  the  expense  of  the  owners  of  the  mines,  and  its  cost, 
including  places  of  drainage,  amounted  to  from  $600  to  $640 
per  mile.  Further  to  the  north  of  Kerbi  there  is  no  carriage  road, 
and  the  communication  is  carried  on  by  means  of  pack-trains 
along  narow  trails.  Therefore  the  cost  of  transportation  of 
goods  is  very  much  increased  (from  $66-$90  per  ton).  During 
the  season  of  bad  roads  (floods)  travelling  along  the  mines' 
trails  is  impossible.  Notwithstanding  these  difficult  conditions 
and  in  spite  of  there  being  a  high  summit  of  a  mountain  be- 
tween the  upper  parts  of  the  rivers  Kerbi  and  Niman,  which 
summit  lies  in  the  adjacent  mining  district  of  Burein,  there  is  a 
trail  across  the  summit.  Along  this  trail  cattle  and  some  other 
goods  for  the  mines  are  being  sent.  A  scheme  was  under  way 
that  a  carriage  way  be  built  here  for  the  connection  of  the 
Burein  mines  with  the  Amgun  mines;  however,  the  war  and, 

61 


subsequently,   the  revolution,  delayed  the   realization   of  the 
project. 

The  mine  region  adjacent  to  the  "Udinsky  Sklad"  has  a 
good  carriage  road  34  miles  long,  which  is  good  for  use  at  any 
season  of  the  year. 

The  mine-regions  of  the  systems  of  the  lakes  Orel,  Chlia 
and  Okhotsk  coast  are  based  on  the  mentioned  lakes.  Com- 
munication with  Nikolaievsk  is  conducted  by  small  boats,  along 
the  lakes  and  the  water  ducts  connecting  the  lakes  with  Amur. 
Further,  carriage  roads  connect  the  residences  situated  along 
the  lakes  with  the  Okhotsk  mine  (the  road  is  10  miles  long), 
and  with  the  Amursk-Oreisk  mines  (16  miles  long) ;  the  former 
road  is  good,  the  latter  unsatisfactory  during  the  season  of 
floods. 

The  Udil  region  which  is  at  present  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance, and,  no  doubt,  it  will  be  of  even  greater  importance  in 
the  future,  is  connected  with  the  mine  residences  by  water-way 
from  Amur  along  the  Uktinsk  water-duct,  near  the  village  Bo- 
gorodsk  and,  further,  along  the  lake  Udil;  the  length  of  the 
water-way  from  Amur  is  46  miles.  From  the  lake  Udil  there 
starts  a  trail,  40  'miles  long,  across  the  marsh,  and  low  hills. 
In  summer  the  passage  through  the  marsh  is  difficult;  therefore 
the  communication  with  the  mines  is  largely  handicapped.  A 
carriage-way  was  schemed  to  be  built  from  here  to  the  gold- 
containing  lake  Djagdach,  and,  further,  to  the  Udinsk  Store 
s-Amgun;  the  war  and  the  revolution  have  interfered  with  the 
construction  of  the  road.  This  road  will  run  through  the  very 
rich,  almost  untouched  gold-bearing  district  of  the  lakes  Udil 
and  Djagdach. 

Gold  Industry  in  the  South-Ussury  District 
The  gold  industry  in  the  South-Ussury  District,  in  general, 
has  not  been  large,  for  the  auriferous  sands  had  been  exhausted 
due  to  the  work  of  the  Chinese  in  former  centuries,  and  as 
regards  new  discoveries — none  have  been  made. 

In  1919  the  output  was  as  follows:  Gold-ore,  82  Ibs;  Gold- 
sand,  10  Ibs.;  totalling  92  Ibs.  i  , 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  output  of  gold  in 
the  island  of  Askold.  There  are  three  enterprises  on  the 
Island:  1)N.  N.  Lukianov's;  2)  K.  N.  Shakhovsky's ;  3)  I.  I. 
Kuster's. 

62 


The  output  of  gold  ore  of  the  first  firm  was  80  Ibs.;  while 
the  latter  two  firms  yielded  a  little  more  than  2  Ibs. 

The  deposit  of  gold  ore  Jin  the  island  of  Askold  consists 
of  a  row  of  quartz  veins  with  visible  gold,  which  is  contained 
in  the  granites.  The  average  gold-content,  on  the  surface, 
—  up  to  0.1  Ibs.,  in  veins  —  up  to  0.3  Ibs.  The  quartz  veins  are 
not  thick — from  several  inches  to  1  foot,  but  they  are  numerous, 
and  form  a  network,  the  thickness  of  which  is  at  times  several 
scores  of  feet.  The  enterprise  has  a  five  stamp  mill,  equipped 
with  a  kerosene  motor.  The  increase  of  production  is  prevented 
because  of  the  absence  of  water  on  the  island.  More  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  deposit  as  the  area  and  the  depth  of 
the  deposit  are  large. 


APPENDIX 

Ordinance   dealing  with    Regulations   regarding   private  Gold- 
Mining  in  Districts  allotted  for  such  purpose  within  the 
Territory  of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic. 

1.  The  gold  bearing  fields  of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic  may 
be  exploited  on  terms  of  lease  obtained  from  the  Government 
of  the  Republic  by  public  organizations,  private  individuals,  "ar- 
tels" of  workers,  co-operatives,  companies,  corporations,  on  the 
following  basis: 

2.  The  lease  holder  is  to  begin  work  on  the  alotted  area 
within  the  time  specified  by  the  Mining  Department  within  a 
period  of  from  one  to  two  years,  depending  upon  the  nature 
of  the  soil  and  the  system  of  work  employed.    In  case  the  lessee 
fails  to  do  so  without  substantial  reasons,  the  allotted  area  is 
restored  to  the  Republic  with  all  the  consequences  stipulated  in 
art.  10  of  these  regulations. 

Remark:  Former  owners  or  lessees  of  gold  mines  which 
are  not  being  worked  at  the  present  time  are  required 
to  begin  actual  prospecting  or  working  of  their  mines 
within  the  time  indicated  by  the  Local  Mining  Depart- 
ments upon  the  basis  of  Ithe  results  of  special  pros- 
pecting of  said  mines. 

3.  The  time  limit  for  the  exploitation  of  leased  gold  bear- 
ing allotments  whether  of  alluvial  or  auriferous  specie  shall 
nature  of  the  strata,  and  the  methods  of  working  employed,  but 
nature  of  the  strata,  and  the  methods  of  working  empoyed,  but 
it  is  not  to  exceed  36  years.     The  time  limit  shall  be  fixed 
simultaneously  with  the  issuing  to  the  lessee  of  the  lease  or 
other  document  authorizing  the  exploitation  of  the  mines. 

4.  Beginning  with  the  year  1923  the  local  mining  depart- 

64 


ments  shall  determine  an  approximate  minimum  annual  output 
for  each  mine,  basing  their  calculations  on  the  prospecting  re- 
sults, nature  of  the  soil,  methods  of  working  employed,  and 
records  of  production  during  former  years.  Until  the  year  1923 
such  minimum  output  shall  be  determined  by  the  number  of 
working  days  on  each  mine,  counting  a  net  output  of  8  dolias 
(1/1150  of  a  Russian  pound)  to  each  working  day. 

5.  For  the  right  to  exploit  gold  bearing  fields  the  lease- 
holder pays  to  the  Republic: 

a)  Prom  gold  obtained  when  piece  work  is  applied 12%. 

from  the  total  quantity  of  gold  mined  within  the  leased 
area. 

b)  Rental  per  desiatine — from  the  area  of  the  mine. 

6.  The  rent  payment  in  kind  from  the  total  production  of 
gold  is  established  as  follows: 

a)  Prom  gold  obtained  when  piece  work  is  applied 12% 

b)  Prom  gold  obtained  when  labor  is  paid  by  day  or  work- 
ers' "artels'  are  employed — 8%. 

c)  Prom   placer   gold   obtained   by   mechanical   methods 
(dredging,  excavation,  hydraulics,  etc.)  or  from  quartz 
gold  when  extracted  by  amalgamation — 5%. 

d)  Prom  gold  obtained  if  chemical  methods  are  applied  in 
case  of  quartz  gold — 3%. 

The  charge  per  desiatine  shall  be  one  ruble  in  gold,  to  be 
paid  annually.  The  rent}  payment  specified  in  this  document 
becomes  obligatory  from  the  day  of  publication  of  these 
regulations. 

7.  The  rent  in  kind  shall  be  paid  to  the  State  Bank  on  the 
first  day  of  May  and  the  thirty-first  day  of  December  of  each 
year,  and  the  rental  per  desiatine  shall  be  paid  on  the  first  day 
of  July  of  each  year.     In  case  of  failure  on  the  part  of  the 
lease  holder  to  make  these  payments  as  specified,  he  shall  be 
given  two  months  grace  in  which  to  make  good  his  arrears.    If 
said  payments  have  not  been  made  upon  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  grace,  the  lease  holder  forfeits  his  rights  to  the  allotted 
area,  which  then  reverts  to  the  Government  of  the  Par  Eastern 
Republic,  with  all  the  consequences  enumerated  in  article  10  of 
these  regulations. 

8.  The  working  of  the  gold-bearing  fields  shall,  as  a  rule, 

65 


be  conducted  upon  the  wage  system  basis.  The  piece  work 
method  may  be  applied  temporarily  and  in  exceptional  cases, 
and  only  in  accordance  with  the  regulations  promulgated  by 
the  local  Mining  Department. 

9.  The  lease  holder  shall  not  transfer  his  rights  to  another 
party  without  the  permission  of  the  Mining  Department.     In 
cases  of  violation  of  this  ruling,  the  original  lessee  shall  be  dis- 
possessed with  all  the  consequences  stipuated  in  article  10  of 
these  regulations. 

10.  On  the  termination  of  the  lease,  the  mines  revert  to 
the  Government.     All  buildings  and  hydro-technical  construc- 
tions  (dikes,  dams,  rafts,  ditches,  etc.)   become  the  property 
of  the  Republic  without  any  payment  for  such  property.    The 
lessee  is  given  one  year  in  which  to  remove  the  balance  of  the 
inventory.    At  the  expiration  of  this  period  the  property,  regard- 
less of  what  it  is,  found  within  the  allotted  area,  becomes  in- 
disputably the  property  of  the  Republic  without  remuneration 
for  same.     Inventory,  buildings,  equipments,  which  eventually 
pass  into  the  possession  of  the  Government  shall  not,  during 
the  term  of  the  lease,  be  sold,  removed,  or  transferred  by  the 
lease  holder  without  the  permission  of  the  Mining  Department. 

11.  In  case  the  lease  is  discontinued  prior  to  its  expiration 
through  the  fault  of  the  lessee,  the  mines  with  all  buildings 
and  equipments  pass  into  the  possession  of  the  Republic,  and 
shall  be  returned  to  the  lessee  in  accordance  with  article  10. 

12.  The  lease  holder  is  permitted  to  purchase  gold  from 
his  workers  but  not  from  the  Workers  of  other  mines.     Such 
purchases  shall  be  entered  in  the  miners'  respective  pay  books. 
The  violation  of  this  latter  shall  be  regarded  as  deliberate  con- 
cealment of  gold  by  the  lease  holder. 

13.  The  lease  holder  shall  be  allowed  to  avail  himself,  free 
of  charge,  for  the  needs  of  the  enterprise  but  not  for  sale,  of 
such  building  minerals  found  within  the  allotted  area  (as  lime, 
clay,  stone,  sand,  etc.).    The  exploitation  of  other  useful  min- 
erals, however,  shall  not  be  permitted  without  the  sanction  of 
the  Mining  Department  and  on  special  conditions. 

14.  The  lease  holder  enjoys  the  exclusive  right  of  the  use 

66 


of  the  timber  found  on  his  allottment  and  for  mining  purposes 
only.  He  is  also  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  timber  outside  his 
allotment  in  accordance  with  the  forestry  regulations,  and  at 
the  rate  existing  at  the  time  in  that  particular  locality. 

15.  All  those  engaged  in  mining,  employing  complicated 
mechanical  equipments  (dredges,  hydraulic  machines,  etc.)  en- 
joy preferential  rights  of  adding  to  their  allotments  adjoining 
unexploited  areas  for  the  erection  of  their  equipment  or  other 
needs  in  connection  with  such  mechanical  work. 


16.  In  case  such  adjoining  areas,  as  indicated  in 

15,  are  exploited  by  manual  labor  by  another  lessee,  and  in  case 
this  latter  does  not  wish  to  amalgamate  with  the  lessee  using 
mechanical  methods  for  the  working  of  both  mines  by  me- 
chanical methods,  the  Government  reserves  as  its  right  the 
power  to  dispossess  the  lessee  employing  manual  labor,  and  to 
transfer  his  rights  to  the  lessee  employing  mechanical  methods 
and  thereby  extracting  a  greater  quantity  of  gold,  on  conditions 
that  mechanical  methods  shall  be  applied  in  the  working  of 
both  allotments.  From  the  date  the  allotment  is  transferred  to 
the  new  lessee,  and  irrespective  of  the  time  when  the  mechanical 
methods  will  be  applied  for  the  working  of  said  allotment,  the 
lessee  shall  pay  to  the  Government  the  rent  in  kind  which  shall 
not  be  less  than  the  amount  paid  by  the  previous  lessee.  The 
new  lessee  is  credited  with  such  payment  in  the  future  working 
of  the  new  allotment  by  the  mechanical  methods.  The  valua- 
tion of  the  newly  transferred  mines  and  its  inventory  shall  be 
made  in  accordance  with  the  existing  laws  and  regulations,  the 
amount  of  such  valuation  to  be  refunded  in  full  and  immediately 
by  the  new  lessee  to  the  previous  one.  The  new  lessee  shall 
pay  the  cost  of  surveying  if  such  be  necessary. 

17.  The  lease  holder  shall  be  free  to  exercise  his  will 
and  judgment  as  to  the  means  of  wiorking  of  his  allotments, 
the  general  -management  of  his  enterprise,  and  the  internal  ad- 
ministration within  the  limits  provided  by  the  existing  laws  and 
regulations. 

18.  The  Central  Mining  Department  establishes  by  special 
instructions,  approved  by  the  Minister  of  Industry  and  Govern- 
ment Control,  regulations  for  gold  mining  enterprises,  methods 

67 


of  bookkeeping,  the  forms  of  books  for  registration  of  the  gold 
output,  the  forms  and  dates  when  information  must  be  given 
regarding  production  of  the  mines,  and  the  classification  of  en- 
terprises which  must  give  simple  accounting  not  requiring  spe- 
cial bookkeeping  knowledge. 

19.  Beginning  with  the  year  1922  every  lease  holder  shall 
present  to  the  Mining  Department  not  later  than  the  first  day 
of  December  of  each  year  a  preliminary  technical  estimate  of 
the  production. 

20.  Lease  holders  using  the  prescribed  system  of  book- 
keeping shall  present  to  the  Mining  Department  not  later  than 
the  first  day  of  March  of  each  year  a  technical  report  for  the 
gold  output  for  the  year  just  ended. 

21.  In  case  the  lease  holder  is  found  guilty  by  a  Court  of 
deliberately  entering  in  his  books  for  gold  registration  an  amount 
smaller  than  the  actual  output  of  gold,  then,  in  addition  to  the 
legal  punishment  of  those  involved  in  the  offense,  such  offense 
may  also  lead  to  the  discontinuation  of  the  lease,  with  all  con- 
sequences stipulated  in  articles  10  and  11  of  these  regulations. 

22.  The  relations  between  the  lessee  and  his  employees  are 
regulated  by  the  laws  of  protection  of  labor. 

23.  The  lessee  shall  furnish  free  of  charge,  lodgings,  ne- 
cessary  furniture,   fuel  and  water  to  representatives  of  the 
Mining  Department  assigned  to  his  mines  temporarily  or  per- 
manently.   These  representatives  shall  also  be  provided  for  their 
inspection  tours  with  horses  and  carts  at  the  prevailing  local 
prices. 

24.  In  case  of  violation  of  articles  8,  13,  19,  20  and  23,  and 
also  for  purchasing  gold  from  workers  for  other  mining  allot- 
ments, the  lessee  is  to  pay  a  fine  in  accordance  with  the  degree 
of  such  violation,  and  according  to  the  scale  of  fines  especially 
fixed  by  the  Ministry  of  Industry. 

25.  Investigations  and  prospecting  of  gold  deposits  shall 
be  permitted  in  virtue  of  these  regulations  until  the  revision 
of  the  mining  laws. 

26.  In  cases  where  it  is  deemed  beneficial  to  the  interest 

68 


of  the  Republic  the  granting  of  rights  for  the  exploitation  of 
gold  deposits  on  terms  different  from  those  stipulated  in  these 
regulations  may  take  place  by  special  sanction  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Far  Eastern  Republic. 
June  30th,  1921. 

Affirmed  by  the  Government  in  accordance  with  paragraph 
43  of  the  Constitution. 

President  of  the  Government, 

A.  KRASNOSHCHEKOV. 
Counter-signed: 

Acting  Chairman  of  the  Council  of  Ministers, 

PETROV. 

Published  in  numbers  316  and  319  of  the  newspaper  "The  Far 
Eastern  Republic",  July  9  and  14,  1921. 


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